REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


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REVIVALS: 

HOW   AND  WHEN? 


BY 


WILLIAM  W.  NEWELL,  D.D. 

AUTHOR    OF  "continental  SKETCHES,"    "  THE  ANGEL  BRIDE,"    "  THE 
CHRISTIAN  MERCHANT,"     "  THE  HOUSEHOLD  OF  PEACE," 
"the  RESCUE,"  ETC. 


NEW  YORK: 
A.  C.   ARMSTRONG   AND  SON, 
714  Broadway. 

1882. 


Copyright,  1882, 
By  a.  C.  Armstrong  and  Son. 


University  Press: 
John  Wilson  and  Son,  Cambridge. 


TO  THE 

HONORABLE  AND  MRS.  WILLIAM  E.  DODGE, 

AND  TO  ALL  OTHEKS  WHO,  LIKE  THEM,  LOVE  REVIVAL  WORK, 

This  Book 
is  most  respectfully  dedicated 
38s  ti)e  ^utfjor. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction  9 

I. 

Why  use  the  word  Kevival  ?  15.  —  How  can  we  have  revivals  1  16. 

—  Revivals  bring  outward  prosperity,  20.  —  Testimony  to  the 
value  of  revivals,  22. — We  must  realize  our  need  of  revivals, 
24.  —  The  new  sanctuary,  28.  —  To  secure  revivals  we  must 
believe  that  we  can  have  them,  30.  —  The  young  people  and 
the  ball,  37.  —  If  we  would  have  revivals  we  must  intensely 
desire  them,  38. — The  vehement  young  pastor,  39. — If  we 
would  have  revivals  our  full  resolve  must  be  :  "  God  helping 
us,  we  wiU  have  them,"  40. — Two  young  pastors,  42. — If 
ministers  would  have  revivals,  their  own  souls  must  be  pre- 
pared for  them,  44. — Rev.  Andrew  Reed,  D.  D.,  4S.  —  To 
insure  revivals  of  religion  the  church  must  have  a  prepara- 
tion of  heart  and  life,  51. 

II. 

If  we  would  have  revivals  we  must  make  them  our  supreme  busi- 
ness, 57. —  The  California  churches,  60.  —  If  we  would  have 
revivals  we  must  exercise  tact  in  the  mastery  of  obstacles,  62. 

—  The  skill  of  Nehemiah,  63.  —  How  the  Devil  was  foiled, 
66. — A  great  victory,  67. — We  must  abandon  our  defective 
prayers,  72.  —  Dr.  S.  I.  Prime's  affecting  description,  76. — 
Churches  of  Christ  must  do  their  best  to  secure  the  revival 
prayed  for,  82.  —  Ministers  and  Christians,  83.  —  The  banker. 


4 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


83.  —  We  must  secure  Christian  co-operation,  86.  —  The 
special  interference  of  God,  87. — We  must  engage  earnestly 
in  personal  work  for  the  impenitent,  89.  —  Personal  conversa- 
tion is  essential,  89.  —  How  God  blessed  the  mothers,  91. — 
The  Princess  Alice,  92.  —  Dr.  D'Aubigne's  conversion,  93.  — 
God's  professed  children  may  require  faithful  admonition,  95. 

III. 

How  to  reach  young  men,  100.  —  First  experience  in  a  vacant 
church,  101.  —  The  young  Gallio,  102.  —  First  experience  as 
a  pastor,  104.  —  Young  men  in  cities,  106.  —  Religious  young 
men  must  influence  their  companions,  108.  —  Seven  young 
men,  109.  —  Worldly  young  men  attracted,  110.  —  Mind  was 
awakened.  A  general  interest  was  excited,  114.  —  Worldly 
young  men  converted,  114.  —  The  young  skeptic,  116.  —  The 
account  of  a  daily  paper,  119.  —  A  remarkable  communion 
service,  121.  —  A  report  of  General  Assembly  on  the  peculiar 
features  of  the  work,  122.  —  The  testimony  of  converts,  123. 

IV. 

How  can  young  men  be  kept  ?  128.  —  Young  men  should  be 
brought  into  the  church,  129. 

V. 

Evangelistic  meetings,  133.  —  How  converted  men  are  led  to  take 
part  in  the  meetings,  135.  —  The  angry  merchant,  135.  —  But 
why  not  be  content  with  one  good  week-night  meeting  ?  136. 
—  The  conversion  of  President  Garfield,  137.— A  description 
of  our  Evangelistic  meetings  in  the  "  New  York  Independent," 
138.  —  But  it  is  said,  "  Why  not  leave  this  same  work  to  be 
done  privately?"  142. —  Should  we  not  always  cherish  the 
Spirit  of  God  ?  143.  —  Why  not  gather  a  harvest  of  souls  at  all 


CONTENTS. 


5 


seasons  of  the  year  1  143.  —  Why  not  depend  on  preaching- 
services  ?  144.  —  Distinguished  pastors  dissatisfied  with  mere 
preaching,  145.  —  How  to  commence  an  Evangelistic  prayer- 
meeting,  146.  —  Fear  of  wildfire,  147. 

VI. 

Household  revivals,  150.  —  A  child  lost !  150.  —  How  can  children 
understand  the  way  of  salvation  1  151.  —  The  neglect  of  pa- 
rents, 151.  —  Hopeful  children,  152.  —  Children  should  be 
converted  while  young,  because  they  are  then  readily  moved, 
153.  —  Pious  children  may  avoid  coming  danger,  154.  — Even 
distinguished  Christians  lose  their  children,  155.  —  How  chil- 
dren were  converted,  157.  —  Godly  children  make  happy 
households,  158.  —  Christian  children  may  be  exceedingly 
useful,  158.  —  Pious  children  may  escape  many  difficulties, 
159.  —  The  result  of  godly  training,  160.  —  Mr.  Anson  G. 
Phelps,  160.  —  The  Doctor's  mistake,  162.  —  The  young 
soldier,  163. 

VII. 

The  worth  of  a  child,  165.  —  Just  how  and  when  to  begin,  167.  — 
Flagrant  sins,  168.  —  A  charming  family  prayer,  168.  —  Vari- 
ous means  for  the  conversion  of  children,  170.  —  The  college 
boy,  171.  —  You  may  seek  for  your  children  the  benefits  of 
the  divine  influence  in  other  churches,  172.  —  The  brave  son, 
172.  —  How  to  reach  families.  The  great  sinner,  173.  —  M. 
Reveilland,  175.  —  Godly  children  should  be  in  the  church, 

176.  —  The  young  officer,  176.  —  Dr.  Hill's  young  children, 

177.  —  Godly  children  need  constant  and  loving  instruction, 

178.  —  Children  maybe  trained  for  the  pulpit,  179.  —  John 
Howard  and  the  little  boy,  180. 

VIII. 

Bible-class  and  Sabbath-school  revivals,  182.  —  Mr.  William  A. 
Booth's  Bible-class,  185.  —  Sabbath-school  revivals,  186. — 


6 


RE  V I VALS :  HO  W  AND  WHEN  f 


Children  must  be  addressed  from  the  pulpit,  188. — How  to  have 
Sabbath-school  revivals,  190.  —  The  boy  teacher,  192. 

IX. 

Revival  preaching,  195.  —  Why  some  pastors  have  few  revivals, 
195.  —  Preaching  to  the  church,  198.  —  Preaching  to  the  un- 
converted, 201.  —  Good  speaking  and  striking  illustration 
attract  the  ungodly,  201.  —  The  understanding  must  be  con- 
vinced, 207.  —  Revival  preachers  must  use  simple  language, 
208.  —  The  profoundest  doctrines  must  be  enforced,  208.  — 
How  is  the  sinner  to  repent  and  live?  211.  —  These  solemn 
truths  must  be  uttered  with  deep  emotion,  212.  —  The  impen- 
itent must  be  awakened,  213.  —  The  revival  preacher  pro- 
claims these  momentous  truths  with  point,  216.  — Drs.  Paxton, 
Beecher,  and  Chalmers,  216 — The  preacher  must  be  intensely 
earnest,  219.  —  Drs.  Griffin  and  Arnot,  221. —  Let  us  take 
courage,  222.  — Grand  results,  223.  —  Evangelists,  224. 

X. 

Inquirers,  229.  —  The  skilful  director,  229.  —  How  to  meet  diffi- 
culties, 230.  —  The  failure  of  inquirers,  232. —  Weighty  mo- 
tives, 234.  —  Inquiry-meetings,  236.  —  The  method  of  Drs. 
Paxton,  Tyng,  Cuyler,  and  Kittredge,  237.  —  Letters  and 
books,  241. 

XL 

Fixed  laws  for  the  promotion  of  revivals,  243.  —  There  must  be  a 
way  of  obtaining  this  blessing,  244.  —  The  way  described  and 
illustrated,  245.  — Lincoln,  Garfield,  Lafayette,  Webster,  Fitz- 
hugh  Lee,  246. — Getting  up  a  revival,  248. — Revival  singing, 
250.  —  Chapel  music,  251 ,  —  Woman's  work  in  revivals,  253. 
—  The  Christian  energy  of  woman,  254.  —  The  skill  of  woman, 
256.  —  Maternal  associations  have  proved  a  precious  means  of 


CONTENTS. 


7 


salvation,  258.  —  Schools  for  young  women  afford  great  facili- 
ties for  revival  work,  258. 

XIL 

Temperance  revivals,  261.  — The  Hon.  W.  E.  Dodge,  261.  — The 
honest  judge,  262.  —  The  best  methods,  263.  —  An  affecting 
case,  264.  —  The  Home  for  Inebriates,  265.  —  The  children 
must  be  secured,  266.  —  Instances  of  marked  success,  267.  — 
Woman's  temperance  revivals,  268. 

XIII. 

When  should  we  have  revivals?  272.  —  Objections:  ^'This  is  a 
charming  theory,  but  who  ever  had  a  yearly  revival  ?  "  276.  — 
Instances  of  a  yearly  revival,  276.  —  "  Most  of  my  congrega- 
tion are  already  members  of  the  church,"  279.  —  Church  col- 
onization in  New  England,  280.  —  "  These  yearly  revivals 
are  subject  to  great  extravagance  and  fanaticism,"  281.  —  "This 
continual  revival  work  breaks  down  the  health," 283. —  "This 
continual  revival  prevents  the  proper  instruction  of  young 
converts,"  285.  —  How  to  fill  the  house  of  the  Lord  with  a 
permanent  congregation,  286.  —  The  people  must  attract  non- 
churchgoers,  287.  —  The  pastor  must  attract  non-churchgoers, 
290.  —  The  pastor  and  the  people  must  work  together,  295.  — 
The  power  of  divine  influence,  296.  —  The  sad  condition  of 
outsiders  demands  our  Christian  sympathy  and  help,  299.  — 
Patient  continuance,  301.  —  Mr.  Cyrus  W.  Field,  304. — 
Great  things,  305.  —  Enlarged  fruitfulness,  308,  —  Colonel 
Richard  M.  Hoe  and  brothers,  309. —  The  last  appeal,  312. 


INTRODUCTION. 


A  YOUNG  city  pastor  recently  said  to  me :  "  I  am  so 
discouraged ;  I  watch  and  pray  and  preach  and  work ; 
but  it  is  so  dark ;  my  people  are  respectable  and  conser- 
vative ;  they  are  kind  and  attentive,  but  there  is  no 
spiritual  quickening;  there  are  no  conversions  to  God; 
I  am  trying  to  do  my  best ;  do  tell  me  what  more  can 
be  done ! " 

The  late  Dr.  Gardner  Spring,  of  the  Brick  Church, 
New  York,  was  greatly  depressed  in  his  early  ministry. 
He  says  :  "  It  seemed  to  me  that  I  must  abandon  my 
post  and  never  preach  another  sermon."  He  saw  no 
way  of  securing  a  religious  movement.  The  reviml  that 
soon  followed  was  a  revelation  to  him. 

Another  beloved  pastor  recently  said  to  me  :  "I  weep 
and  say,  *  Lord,  speak,  for  thy  servant  heareth.'  I  preach 
with  all  my  heart  and  soul ;  I  dismiss  tlie  people ;  they 
go  out  into  the  world  impressed ;  but  the  world,  the 
flesh,  and  the  devil  press  in,  and  by  the  coming  Sabbath 
the  impressions  are  lost.    What  can  I  do  ? " 


10 


REVIVALS:    HOW  AXD  WHEN? 


Another  pastor  has  said  to  me :  "  How  often  have 
we  seemed  to  be  upon  the  very  eve  of  a  work  of  grace, 
and  yet  it  lias  passed  away  like  the  early  dew.  What 
can  I  do?" 

One  of  the  most  able  pastors  I  knew  in  my  early  days 
rushed  into  our  ministers'  meeting  and  said:  "Brethren, 
you  must  all  come  to  my  help !  A  revival  of  religion 
has  begun  in  my  church,  and  I  know  not  what  to  do." 

In  Xew  England,  a  committee  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  .Association  accept  invitations  to  visit  churches 
that  are  desirous  of  special  services.  A  member  of  that 
committee  once  said :  "  Wherever  we  go  we  always  hear 
this  one  remark:  'Our  difficulties  here  are  very  pecu- 
liar! "  Each  church  seemed  to  be  palsied  by  the  idea 
of  insuperable  obstacles.  Crowds  of  churches  are  thus 
waiting,  —  waiting,  it  may  be,  like  the  blinded  sinner, 
for  the  interference  of  heaven. 

There  are  hundreds  of  books  addressed  to  the  impen- 
itent. Christians  hear  much  about  the  peace  of  God, 
and  the  ordinary  activities  of  the  church.  They  read 
glowing  accounts  of  the  success  of  Evangelists  ;  they 
read  the  history  of  former  revivals,  and  the  result  of 
present  ones.  And  yet,  from  the  depths  of  aching 
hearts,  there  comes  the  moaning  cry :  "  Tell  us  just  how 
these  works  were  commenced  and  carried  on.  Show  us 
how  we,  in  our  depressed  and  peculiar  condition,  may 
have  the  wisdom,  faith,  and  valor  to  secure  this  unspeak- 
able blessing." 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 


Farmers  are  told  in  agricultural  works  just  wliat  to 
do  each  week  in  the  year.  One  of  these  papers,  now  in 
its  fortieth  year,  is  said  to  be  "  a  perfect  cyclopaedia  of 
useful  information,"  Each  number  abounds  with  direc- 
tions for  the  jpradical  working  of  the  field,  the  orchard, 
and  the  garden. 

Medical  students  are  not  only  taught  in  lectures,  jour- 
nals, and  books  just  how  to  discover  and  heal  each  disease 
of  the  body,  but  they  are  called  to  w^itness  the  method 
and  the  progress  of  the  healing.  Large  committees  are 
appointed  to  search  out  and  to  publish  the  best  methods 
of  curing  occult  and  infectious  diseases.  How  infinitely 
essential  is  such  knowledge  to  those  who  are  to  give  an 
account  for  the  cure  of  souls."  No  wonder  that  in 
their  straits  they  ask  for  the  plans,  feelings,  and  methods 
of  those  who,  in  propitious  or  intricate  circumstances, 
have  led  many  to  the  Great  Physician. 

God  has  disclosed  to  us  the  methods  used  in  the  revi- 
vals of  Josiah  and  Nehemiah.  Jesus  shows  us  how  the 
revival  began  in  Samaria,  and  Luke  how  it  commenced 
in  the  Jerusalem  chamber.  In  my  young  days  I  received 
instruction  upon  this  subject,  and  my  early  ministry  was 
blessed  with  revivals.  I  loved  to  read  and  talk  of  them. 
I  loved  to  pray  and  labor  in  them.  But  as  we  were  told 
not  to  press  the  work  too  long  we  did  our  best  for  the 
time.  And  so  we  had  a  great  excitement  followed  by 
melancholy  reaction.  The  church  and  the  converts  sank 
down  into  a  state  of  spiritual  lethargy.    This  disheart- 


12  REVIVALS:    HOW  AND  WHEN? 

ened  the  church  and  brought  disrepute  upon  the  work 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  length  I  discovered  that  the 
Lord's  hand  was  not  shortened  that  it  could  not  con- 
stantly save,  but  that  our  unbelief  had  grieved  away  the 
Spirit. 

Since  then  a  harvest  of  souls  every  year  has  been  our 
study  and  our  aim.  Nothing  has  been  to  us  so  absorb- 
ing, so  precious,  so  joyful.  As  the  years  rolled  on,  our 
church  has  reached  a  higher  standard,  ouxJaith_^s 
grown  stronger,  and  our  emotions  steadier.  And  it  has 
been  more  and  more  easy  and  delightful  to  enlist  in  our 
work  the  warm  and  efficient  aid  of  new-born  souls. 

And  so,  at  the  suggestion  of  ministerial  brethren 
whom  I  revere,  and  at  the  desire  of  young  ministers  and 
laymen  whom  I  would  aid,  I  turn  with  all  my  heart  to 
tlie  task  of  showing  just  Iwio  and  v:licn  revivals  of 
religion,  in  the  face  of  varied  and  darkened  prospects, 
have  been  and  may  be  commenced  and  carried  forward 
without  undue  excitement  or  injurious  reaction  ;  and 
this  I  do  with  fervent  and  trusting  appeals  to  God  for 
divine  aid. 

The  crudities  and  barrenness  of  inexperience  are 
often  disastrous  and  melancholy.  But  we  may  learn 
from  the  exact  experience  of  others.  This  experience  I 
shall  often  describe  in  their  own  language.  I  shall 
present  thoughts  suggested  by  reading ;  and  if  a  particle 
of  help  may  be  obtained  from  my  own  failure  or  suc- 
cess I  shall  be  pardoned  for  referring  to  them.    I  shall 


IN  TROD  UCTI  ON. 


13 


strive  to  show  how  we  may  secure  the  help  of  God  and 
the  co-operation  of  man.  I  shall  urge  the  supreme 
worth  of  right  feelingytrue  prayer,  and  wise  action.  I 
shall  show  that  revivals  without  the  power  of  the  Holyy 
Ghost  are  a  monstrosity  and  a  failure.  I  shall  fre- 
quently refer  to  the  best  methods  of  reaching  the  ne- 
glecters  of  the  sanctuary.  And  all  this  I  hope  to  do 
with  such  clearness  that  Christians,  in  ordinary  circum- 
stances and  with  honest  desires,  may  see  their  way  to  a 
revival  of  religion  every  coming  year. 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


I. 

WHY  USE  THE  WORD  REVIVAL  ? 

Because  it  is  supremely  precious.  God  uses  it.  The 
Prophet  prayed  for  it.  It  is  associated  with  some  of  the 
grandest  scenes  of  Bible  history.  It  presents  to  our 
vision  a  tender,  loving,  quickened  church,  pleading  with 
God  and  men,  while  new-born  souls  are  praising  and 
honoring  Jesus.  Saints  of  old  wrought  for  revivals. 
Angels  exult  over  them.  Jesus  infinitely  loves  them, 
and  Jehovah  is  glorified  by  them.  True  Christians  may 
rightly  object  to  fanaticism  and  wildfire ;  but  they  can- 
not object  to  the  outpouring  of  God's  Spirit.  And 
wherever  Christians  may  be  they  should  always  labor 
for  the  lost,  with  entire  dependence  on  this  divine 
influence. 

This  work  is  not  confined  to  the  ministry.  A  lay 
friend  of  mine  spent  a  summer  vacation  where  there 
was  no  pastor.  He  took  charge  of  a  Bible-class.  He 
pressed  the  solemn  truth.   He  appointed  a  prayer-meet- 


16 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


ing  at  one  of  their  houses.  He  conversed  with  the 
anxious  after  the  meeting.  He  visited  every  one  of 
them  at  their  homes.  More  than  twenty  persons  em- 
braced the  Saviour.  He  returned  to  his  city  home  full 
of  courage  and  zeal  for  his  Master's  work. 

In  the  promotion  of  revivals  the  regular  means  of 
grace  may  be  increased  in  number,  or  unusual  measures 
may  be  adopted.  There  may  be  deep,  quiet  emotion 
or  visible  excitement.  The  first  essential  to  such  a 
work  is,  of  course,  its  commencement.  And  now  comes 
that  question  of  questions  with  thousands  of  Christ's 
disciples,  — 

HOW  CAN  WE  HAVE  REVIVALS  ? 

We  must  first  of  all  believe  in  them.  We  must  feel 
that  they  are  infinitely  desirable.  We  never  heartily 
enter  upon  any  stupendous  undertaking  unless  we  an- 
ticipate weighty  results.  "Hearty  belief  is  essential  to 
mighty  endeavor."  I  know  a  man  who  for  nearly 
twenty  years  has  been  an  elder  in  a  barren  church.  He 
has  all  this  time  been  dreading  religious  wildfire  and 
painful  reaction.  His  church  is  fast  dying  of  drought  and 
dust  j  and  there  is  not  the  slightest  danger  that  his  fears 
of  excitement  will  ever  be  realized.  All  emotion^Jrliat 
arises  from  sacred  truth  and  divine  influence  is  perfectly 
legitimate,  and  every  wise  leader  will  rejoice  at  an  ex- 
hibition of  such  ardor.  It  inspires  courage,  strength, 
and  action.    When  heartily  convinced  that  a  revival  is 


HOW  CAN   WE  HAVE  REVIVALS?  17 

valuable,  a  pastor  and  his  church  will  often  deviate  from 
their  ordinary  course  of  Cliristian  work  to  obtain  it. 

During  Mr.  Moody's  meetings  in  this  city,  the  Eev. 
E.  E.  Booth,  D.  D.,  of  the  University  Place  Church,  was 
deeply  impressed  with  the  value  of  that  revival.  He 
said,  in  my  hearing,  to  a  convention  of  ministers :  "  Look 
at  this  assembly.  The  simple  gospel  has  been  preached 
here  to  sinners,  not  as  a  plea  against  infidelity,  but  as  a 
proclamation.  We  thought  we  were  all  dead,  frozen, 
and  crystallized.  But  this  work  has  held  N"ew  York 
for  a  month.  I  believe  if  this  could  go  on  for  six  months 
our  police  might  be  disbanded,  and  we  could  hold  New 
York  for  God." 

The  Doctor  carried  this  spirit  into  his  own  church 
work,  for  he  added  :  "  Such  a  thing  as  an  inquiry-meeting 
had  never  taken  place  under  my  sober  ministry  in  my 
staid  church;  but  I  resolved  that  I  would  appoint  one. 
On  Sabbath  morning  I  preached  from  the  text,  '  Come, 
for  all  things  are  now  ready. '  I  said  to  them,  '  This  ser- 
mon presupposes  and  involves  an  invitation,  7iow  and 
here.  It  does  not  imply  that  you  are  to  go  away  after 
the  sermon  and  spend  two  or  three  hours  exposed  to  the 
influence  of  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  but 
that  now  and  here  you  are  to  have  an  opportunity  of 
accepting  Christ.'  The  inquiry-meeting  was  appointed, 
and  ten  persons  came  in  and  accepted  Christ ;  and  one 
of  them  was  a  dear  young  man  for  whom  I  had  long 
been  yearning." 


18  REVIVALS:   HOW  AND  WHENf 

Dr.  Booth  continued :  "  Brethren,  have  we  not  to 
revolutionize  the  whole  system  of  preaching,  and  change 
somewhat  our  mode  of  operations  ?  The  trouble  is,  our 
sermons  do  not  mount  to  the  climax.  If  they  are  mere 
orations,  and  theories  of  Christianity,  an  invitation  to 
such  a  meeting  is  incongruous  and  absurd.  But  when 
the  sermon  says  Come,  from  beginning  to  end,  when  it 
is  appended  to  the  cross,  when  it  is  bleeding  witli  tears 
and  sobs  all  the  way  through,  then  we  can  say,  *  Come 
to  Jesus.' "  This  action  and  testimony  showed  a  hearty 
belief  in  revivals.  How,  indeed,  can  their  worth  be 
questioned  ? 

What  seasons  of  humiliation  and  turning  to  God  we 
lind  in  the  Old  Testament !  As  Jesus  moved  from  place 
to  place  the  people  were  awakened  and  numbers  be- 
lieved on  him.  After  his  resurrection,  revivals  gave  to 
the  church  its  first  grand  impetus.  Edwards  believed 
that  the  noblest  religious  work  in  the  world  has  re- 
sulted from  them,  and  that  our  country  was  moulded  by 
them. 

Notwithstanding  occasional  imperfections,  the  Spirit 
of  God  in  a  revival  often  arouses  the  people  from  a 
state  of  spiritual  stagnation.  It  greatly  invigorates  and 
develops  Christian  character.  It  fills  the  heart  with 
penitence,  prayer,  love,  and  song.  Tongues  are  loosened 
and  testimonies  are  given  to  the  preciousness  of  Jesus. 
It  heals  church  divisions  and  church  scandals.  It  re- 
claims backsliders.    It  arouses  the  self-deceived.  Fear- 


HOW  CAN    WE  HAVE  REVIVALS  f  19 

fulness  surpriseth  the  hypocrites.  There  is  a  new 
atmosphere,  a  new  influence,  a  new  standard,  a  new- 
activity.  The  roused  intellect  seizes  and  carries  out 
important  suggestions.  The  emotions  of  the  heart  are 
quickened  and  sanctified.  Christians  encourage  and  , 
strengthen  each  other.  The  waste  places  are  built  up. 
And  thus  revivals  add  vastly  to  the  force  of  religion,  v 
We  see  all  this  exemplified  in  the  lives  of  I^ehemiah, 
Paul,  Luther,  Knox,  Whitefield,  Wesley,  and  thousands 
of  other  giant  men.  The  pastor  is  emptied  of  self. 
The  truth  that  he  utters  is  pointed  and  impressive.  He 
and  his  church  are  united  in  heart  and  toil.  Together 
they  plead  with  God  and  men  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 
The  thoughtless  and  the  wicked  are  attracted  to  these 
gatherings. 

Many  an  enlightened  sinner  then  says,  "  I  must  now 
become  a  Christian."  Sin  and  error  are  confounded. 
The  crafty  schemes  of  the  devil  and  his  adherents  are 
thwarted.  They  are  comparatively  powerless.  God  is 
in  the  work  and  it  must  prevail.  The  truth,  providence, 
and  Spirit  of  God  are  mighty  weapons  for  the  overthrow 
of  strongholds  and  the  breaking  down  of  stubborn  wills. 
And  so  harsh-driviug  opponents,  who  would  doubtless 
have  resisted  to  the  end  all  private  influences,  are 
sweetly  bowing  to  the  cross  of  Christ. 

There  is  great  joy  in  that  city.  Eeligion  is  respected 
and  the  morals  of  the  community  are  advanced.  At 
one  time  there  was  a  powerful  revival  of  religion  in 


20 


REVIVALS:    HOW  AND  WHEN? 


Eochester,  K  Y.  Many  years  afterward,  when  the  city 
had  increased  threefold,  it  was  found  that  there  w^ere 
not  one  third  as  many  prosecutions  for  crime  as  there 
had  been  previous  to  that  revival.  If  the  work  is 
properly  conducted  and  followed  up,  these  converts  will 
be  trained  and  enlisted  in  Christian  w^ork.  They  will 
thus  become  sober  and  valuable  citizens.  Bible  truth  is 
magnified,  and  Jesus  sees  of  the  travail  of  his  soul 
(Isa.  liii.  11). 

REVIVALS  BRING  OUTWARD  PROSPERITY. 

They  pay  church  debts  and  replenish  the  treasury  of 
the  Lord.  On  my  settlement  in  New  York  I  found  an 
old  mortgage  of  some  thousands  resting  upon  our  sanc- 
tuary. It  seemed  to  be  an  immovable  incubus.  One 
cold  night,  at  the  close  of  a  precious  revival  meeting, 
I  stood  by  the  stove,  and  as  one  and  another  of  our 
wealthiest  men  approached  me  I  simply  said,  "  This  is 
a  good  time  to  pay  our  church  debt ;  what  will  you 
give  ? "  Each  of  them  said,  "  I  will  give  what  Mr. 
Lester  does."  As  Mr.  L.  appeared  and  was  told  what 
had  passed,  he  exclaimed,  "  I  will  see  it  done."  Thus 
in  ten  minutes  the  whole  matter  was  decided.  We 
quietly  set  about  it,  and  the  debt  was  soon  paid.  The 
sanctuary  was  repaired  and  beautified,  and  soon  after  a 
better  organ  was  procured. 

The  Kev.  Dr.  Pentecost  recently  became  pastor  of  a 
Congregational  church  in  Brooklyn,  IST.  Y.    They  wor- 


REVIVALS   BEING   OUTWARD  PROSPERITY.  21 


shipped  in  a  rented  building.  Dr.  Pentecost  did  not 
talk  money,  but  he  toiled  for  souls.  The  people  gath- 
ered. The  revival  interest  deepened  and  spread.  In  a 
few  months  the  sanctuary  was  purchased  for  $40,000. 
Most  of  -this  was  raised  in  a  single  day.  On  a  coming 
Sabbath  they  welcomed  fifty  souls  to  the  communion  in 
a  sanctuary  free  of  debt. 

A  single  revival  may  spread  to  other  churches. 
Men's  hearts  may  be  warmed  as  they  hear  or  read 
about  it.     They  may  visit  the  meetings  and  bear  to 
their  homes  the  good  spirit.    During  a  prayer-meet- 
ing I  once  occupied  the  moderator's  chair  in  the  synod 
of  New  York  and  New  Jersey.    A  stranger  arose  by 
the  door  and  said  :  "  You  can  never  estimate  the  results 
of  a  single  revival.   Last  winter,  while  merchants  from 
my  congregation  were  in  New  York,  they  attended 
revival  prayer-meetings  in  the  church  of  which  your 
chairman  is  pastor.    They  came  home  and  poured  forth 
the  emotions  of  their  warm  hearts,  and  a  great  awaken- 
ing followed.    I  can  always  see  what  influences  have 
reached  them  while  in  New  York."    This  pastor  was 
not  from  a  neighboring  village.    It  was  the  Eev.  Dr. 
Noble  of  St.  Paul,  Minn. 
/   ^That  small,  simple  prayer-meeting,  founded  in  Fulton ' 
Street,  New  York,  during  the  year  1858,  has  spread  its  ^ 
benign  influence  over  vast  portions  of  the  civilized  and/ 
s^issionary  world. 

In  examining  candidates  for  pastoral  or  mission  life 


22  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

it  is  astonishing  how  many  say  to  us,  was  born  again 
in  a  revival  of  religion.^  It  is  said  that  sixty  thousand 
souls  were  led  to  Christ  through  the  influence  of  min- 
isters who  were  saved  during  a  single  revival  in  Yale 
College.  And  we  know  that  in  one  year  there  were 
revivals  in  nineteen  of  our  American  colleges.  What 
crowds  of  men  have  thus  been  brought  into  the  min- 
istry !  Among  the  thousands  who  have  been  led  through 
such  instrumentality  to  preach  the  gospel  were  such 
men  as  Davis,  Edwards,  Griffin,  Payson,  Mclllvaine, 
Cornelius,  Kirk,  Fish,  &c. 

TESTIMONY  TO  THE  VALUE  OF  REVIVALS. 

My  dear  old  pastor  and  spiritual  father,  Dr.  Lyman 
Beecher,  said  in  one  of  his  last  public  addresses :  "  I  feel 
that  if  I  had  a  thousand  lives  to  live  they  should  all  be 
devoted  to  the  ministry  and  to  revivals."  Dr.  Gardner 
Spring  said :  "  I  have  felt  the  deepest  interest  in  re- 
vivals." Bishop  Mclllvaine  said :  "  Whatever  I  possess 
of  religion  began  in  a  revival."  With  what  glowing 
zeal  did  Dr.  J.  W.  Alexander  of  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Church,  New  York,  help  on  the  revival  of  1858.  His 
heart,  tongue,  and  pen  were  all  enlisted. 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Porter  of  Farmington,  Connecticut, 
once  said :  "  Those  who  remain  of  Dr.  N"ettleton's  revi- 
val converts  are  the  chief  strength  of  our  church."  His 
son.  President  Porter  of  Yale  College,  has  said  :  "  I  deem 
it  all-important  that  ministers  should  be  revival  men." 


TESTIMONY  TO  THE  VALUE  OF  REVIVALS.  23 


Dr.  Joel  Hawes,  who  lived  and  died  the  pastor  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  in  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
said:  "If  in  my  church  there  is  any  love  of  the  doctrines 
of  the  gospel,  any  active  engagedness  for  the  glory  of 
God  and  the  salvation  of  sinners,  at  home  or  abroad,  all 
is  to  be  traced,  in  no  small  degree,  to  revivals  of  re- 
ligion. Nearly  all  the  church  members  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut  have  been  converted  in  revivals."  "  This," 
he  adds,  should  silence  the  tongue  of  cavil  and  lead 
the  church  to  prayer  and  action."  I  may  add  that 
New  York  has  been  indebted  to  this  First  Church  in 
Hartford  for  some  of  its  most  munificent  and  useful 
Christians. 

Said  President  Humphrey,  of  Amherst  College  : 
"After  all  that  our  eyes  have  seen  and  our  ears  have 
heard,  I  marvel  that  any  one  should  look  with  suspi- 
cion on  revivals.  Eather  let  us  hail  them,  in  this 
midnight  of  tribidation,  as  the  harbinger  of  '  the  light 
of  seven  days ' "  (Isa.  xxx.  26). 

Says  the  Eev.  J.  Bruce  :  "Blot  out  what  God  has  done 
by  revivals,  and  our  sky  would  be  shrouded  in  gloom. 
Languor  and  death  would  surround  us  on  every  side." 
May  I  not  add,  —  but  for  these  revivals  millions 
souls  who  have  entered  the  gates  of  light  and  glory, 
and^are  exulting  in  the  palace  of  jasper  and  gold,  would^ 
be  moaning  to-day  in  the  depths  of  eternal  despair. 

Where  is  the  church  of  Christ  that  does  not  rejoice 
with  joy  unspeakable  when  the  Holy  Ghost  is  with 


24 


HEVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


them  in  couvincing  and  converting  power  ?  Where 
are  the  men  whose  memory  will  be  cherished  so  ten- 
derly on  earth  or  so  gratefully  in  heaven  as  the  nien 
who  have  wrought  most  and  best  in  revivals  of  re- 
ligion ?  Now  if  we  would  have  these  revivals  we  must 
first  of  all  believe  in  their  infinite  value.  Eev.  Albert 
Barnes  believed  that  our  public  opinion  and  our  public 
morals  were  principally  indebted  to  revivals.  And  he 
once  said  in  substance  to  liis  people :  "  Do  any  of  you 
start  back  at  the  word  Eevival  ?  Does  it  suggest  to 
you  the  mere  idea  of  excitement,  disorder,  and  wildfire  ? 
And  when  you  pray,  '  0  Lord,  revive  thy  w^ork,'  do 
you  do  it  with  mental  reservations  ? "  And  so,  in  sub- 
stance, our  dear  departed  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Skinner,  of 
this  city,  has  said:  "What  manner  of  person  must  he 
be  who  can  allow  himself  to  distrust  the  desirableness 
of  revivals  ? " 

Eevivals  of  religion  in  these  latter  days  are  the 
grandest  gift  of  God  to  man ;  -^and  they  ^  must  prevail 
or  the  world  is  lost.  J  To  secure  them  we  must  have  one 
unintercepted  blaze  of  light,  and  the  power  of  an  un- 
faltering conviction. 

AVE  MUST  REA.LIZE  OUR  NEED  OF  REVIVALS. 

Something  which  I  have  written  on  believing  in  re- 
vivals will  suggest  the  imperative  need  of  them.  I 
may  add  that  they  are  needed  to  secure  the  salv^ation  of 
perishing  millions.    During  the  century  not  long  since 


OUR  NEED  OF  REVIVALS. 


25 


closed  the  increase  of  souls  in  this  country  was  nearly 
forty  millions.  During  that  century  the  inhabitants 
have  more  than  doubled  every  twenty-four  years.  If 
the  recent  rate  of  increase  by  birth  and  emigration  con- 
tinues, our  population  in  1890  will  amount  to  ninety 
millions,  and  only  one  quarter  of  our  present  inhabitants 
are  of  Anglo-Saxon  origin.  More  than  one  fifth  of  them 
live  amid  the  temptations  of  our  three  hundred  and 
eighty  incorporated  cities.  With  the  present  means  of 
grace  are  these  souls  being  saved?  It  is  said  that  two 
thirds  of  them,  who  are  over  ten  years  old,  attend  no 
church. 

Some  years  ago  the  Congregational  churches  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada  reported  that  the  gain  over 
their  losses  did  not  average  one  communicant  to  each 
church.  In  many  of  their  churches  the  number  of 
communicants  was  decreasing.  !N'ot  much  better  is  the 
report  of  the  English  churches.  If  these  countries  are 
the  stanchest  bulwarks  of  Christianity,  what  must  be 
the  needs  of  the  world  ? 

At  the  present  rate  of  conversions  what  is  the  pros- 
pect of  our  ninety  millions  in  the  year  1900  ?  And 
souls  are  now  constantly  passing  into  eternity.  Last 
week  more  than  eleven  hundred  persons  were  carried 
away  from  this  city  to  their  silent  sepulchre.  Think  of 
the  millions  who  are  going  up  to  the  dread  tribunal 
from  this  and  from  other  lands.  Follow  the  track  of 
Death  as  he  "enters  the  gate,  climbs  the  wall,  leaps 


26 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WEEN? 


the  tower,  pierces  the  fort,  creeping  unbidden  into  mil- 
lions of  agonized  chambers  or  crashing  through  the 
bewildered  crowd."  Look  at  these  death  scenes.  See 
the  drapery  of  earth  falling.  Hear  the  remorseful,  bit- 
ter cry  :  "  My  treasures  have  failed.  My  dependence  is 
gone.  I  am  sinking  into  a  dark  and  endless  abyss, 
with  no  hope.  I  have  spurned  the  great  and  glorious 
God.    And  he  is  now  my  judge." 

Nothing  but  revivals  can  possibly  save  the  immense 
throng  of  immortal  beings  that  are  at  this  moment 
pressing  their  way  down  to  an  endless  retribution. 
Eevivals  are  needed  by  professed  Christians.  How 
many  of  them  are  sighing  over  worldly  lives  and  feeble 
hopes.  Some  of  them  are  indeed  stumbling-blocks Jlu 
thO-^yi-^f-^iiiiers.  How  do  they  need  the  qjnckening 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

So  with  our  religious  congregations.  Is  your  church 
languishing  and  feeble  ?  Is  it  neglected  by  multitudes 
in  the  community  ?  Is  it  sustained  with  difficulty  ? 
How  sorely  do  you  need  a  revival  of  religion  !  And 
how  encouraging  to  you  is  the  thought  that  God  hath 
cliosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the 
things  which  are  mighty  (1  Cor.  i.  27). 

Is  your  church  outwardly  prosperous  ?  Is  it  free 
\  from  debt  ?  Have  you  a  popular  pastor,  a  full  house, 
rich  contributions,  a  flourishing  Sabbath-school,  an  in- 
teresting prayer- meeting,  with  but  few  conversions  ? 
Are  many  among  you  rejecting  the  Saviour  ?  And 


OUR  NEED  OF  REVIVALS. 


27 


ire  you  content  with  this  state  of  things  ?  Whatever 
may  be  the  richness  of  your  prosperity,  or  the  pleasant- 
ness of  your  methods,  do  you  not  need  a  revival  of 
religion  ?  You  may  "  understand  all  mysteries  and  all 
knowledge,"  you  may  bestow  all  your  "goods  to  feed 
the  poor "  (1  Cor.  xiii.  2,  3),  and  yet  be  in  perishing 
need  of  the  warmth  and  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The 
danger  of  quietude  and  contentment  in  a  prosperous 
congregation  is  most  alarming;  and  the  sin  is  greatly 
enhanced  by  the  possession  of  a  stupendous  power  that 
is  but  feebly  exerted  for  the  rescue  of  the  perishing. 
Churches  that  are  prone  to  satisfaction  and  independ- 
ence need  the  Holy  Ghost.  Such  churches  are  most 
difficult  to  move.  They  do  not  realize  their  need.  In 
spite  of  all  obstacles  the  force  of  Apostolic  revivals  was 
felt  for  centuries.  But  when  Constantine  raised  the 
Cross,  and  the  state  formally  adopted  the  Christian 
religion,  revivals  languished. 

Pastors  of  prosperous  congregations  are  sometimes 
painfully  awakened  to  their  deplorable  condition. 

Dr.  John  Todd  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  once  wrote:  "We 
had  a  new  and  beautiful  church  edifice  and  a  great  con- 
gregation. We  were  abundantly  prospered,  beyond  all 
our  hopes.  For  three  years,  waves  of  worldliness  were 
going  over  us.  I  urged  the  church  to  have  prayer-meet- 
ings every  evening.  They  had  not  life  enough  to  say 
No.  We  had  the  meetings.  During  the  first  week  one 
man  made  a  confession  of  sin.    That  electrified  us. 


28 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


Soon  there  were  sixty  or  seventy  in  the  prayer-meeting. 
And  these  continued  meetings  eventuated  in  a  decided 
blessing." 

THE  NEW  SANCTUARY. 

During  my  own  earlier  ministry  I  was  for  many 
years  pastor  of  a  venerable  city  church.  The  parish 
outgrew  the  old  sanctuary.  They  erected  a  beautiful 
edifice.  The  building  immediately  filled  up.  One  of 
the  highest  officers  in  the  State  purchased  one  pew  for 
himself  and  one  for  his  servants.  At  the  suggestion  of 
a  wealthy  man  of  the  world,  the  salary  w^as  largely  in- 
creased. At  the  time  of  the  dedication  we  did  not  owe 
a  farthing.  Everybody  seemed  to  be  in  ecstasies  over 
the  audience  room,  the  chapel,  the  new  organ,  the  sweet 
music  and  the  great  congregation.  It  was  gravely  sug- 
gested to  me  that  I  had  now  a  nice  berth  for  life. 

As  time  advanced  there  were  occasional  conversions 
to  Christ.  But  I  greatly  missed  the  blessed  revivals  we 
had  enjoyed  in  the  old  church.  I  became  utterly  dis- 
satisfied with  myself,  and  I  almost  loathed  the  new 
sanctuary. '  It  all  seemed  to  me  like  a  pleasing  show. 
During  a  meeting  of  Presbytery  at  our  church  the 
people  gathered  largely  to  the  evening  services.  I  had 
formerly  assisted  Dr.  B.  in  his  extra  meetings.  I  sug- 
gested to  my  session  that  we  should  invite  him  to  remain 
and  preach  several  evenings.  But  they  said,  "  We  see 
no  call  for  such  meetings."    The  old  device  of  the 


THE  NEW  SANCTUARY, 


29 


adversary,  —  as  if  our  fearful  stagnation  was  not  a  call 
for  some  extreme  remedy  or  extra  movement.  Deter- 
mined not  to  move  without  their  co-operation,  I  said  to 
them :  "  My  heart  is  breaking ;  I  cannot  live  in  this 
stupor.  What  can  we  do  ? "  The  answer  was,  "  You 
can  appoint  a  prayer-meeting  at  a  private  house."  This 
I  did.  The  house  was  crowded  every  evening.  During 
that  week  a  man  of  the  world  arose  and  said,  "  I  have 
said  my  prayers  for  forty  years,  but  I  have  never  prayed 
till  now."  His  wife  was  converted  at  the  same  time. 
Then  the  session  said  we  must  go  to  the  chapel.  That 
would  not  hold  the  people.  Then  they  said  :  "  Let  us  go 
to  the  church."  There  we  had  preacldng  every  evening. 
After  service  the  church  remained  to  pray,  while  the 
pastor  and  others  gathered  with  converts  and  the 
anxious  to  the  chapel.  That  was  filled.  Our  great 
effort  was  to  remove  obstacles  and  to  bring  each  one  to 
a  present  submission  to  Christ.  Among  the  one  hun- 
dred hopeful  converts  were  heads  of  families  who  had 
given  liberally  for  the  new  sanctuary.  I  remember 
also  one  Papist  who  with  thrilling  emotion  exclaimed, 
in  one  of  our  meetings  for  prayer :  "  I  want  to  praise 
the  Lord.  •  I  used  to  confess  to  the  priest.  I  now  con- 
fess to  Christ.  I  was  a  poor,  dark,  miserable  sinner, 
but  now  I  rejoice  in  Jesus.  Xo  man  has  done  it.  God 
has  done  it.    Praise  Him,  praise  Him." 

On  reviewing  this  whole  affair  I  praised  God  that  I 
was  not  left  to  say :  "  As  my  session  oppose  me  I  can 


30 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


do  nothing."  I  praised  him  for  their  co-operation.  I 
praised  him  for  that  little  prayer-meeting.  It  brought 
us  into  the  dust  before  God.  There  we  felt  tliat  he 
alone  coald  help  us.  This  prayer-meeting  is  a  meas- 
ure that  is  always  legitimate.  It  is  always  open  to  the 
smallest  number  of  Christ's  awakened  disciples.  The 
most  wonderful  revival  in  the  history  of  Christ's  Church 
began  in  that  little  Apostolic  prayer-meeting  in  an 
upper  chamber.  If  you  are  not  toiling  earnestly  for 
souls,  search  out  the  condition  of  your  own  heart  and 
the  condition  of  the  people.  Face  the  evil  and  the 
danger  in  all  their  length  and  breadth.  Then  you  will 
see  your  need  and  you  are  prepared  to  seek  the  bless- 
ing. Nehemiah's  first  step  was  to  go  out  by  the  light 
of.  the  moon  to  discover  the  dilapidations  of  the  city 
By  this  means  his  soul  was  so  agitated  with  a  sense 
of  their  need  that  he  began  and  pressed  on  the  work 
of  restoration  in  the  face  of  the  most  stupendous 
obstacles. 

-> 

"  TO  SECURE  REVIVALS  WE  MUST  BELIEVE  THAT  WE  CAN 
HAVE  THEM. 

We  must  realize  that  God  waits  to  bestow  them  as  his 
choicest  gift.  The  moment  a  religious  awakening  is 
urged,  the  adversary  usually  presses  this  favorite  sug- 
gestion :  "What  presumption!  What  can  you  do? 
How  can  you  transform  the  heart  and  life  of  such  a 
community  as  this  ? "   Thus  the  people  of  God  question 


HOW  TO  SECURE  REVIVALS. 


31 


the  possibility  of  such  a  blessing,  or  they  dread  the  an- 
ticipated obstructions.  "They  magnify  the  obstacles." 
They  distrust  the  promises  of  the  Almighty,  and  de- 
preciate his  boundless  mercy.  We  can  imagine  re- 
markable and  providential  circumstances,  where  the 
public  are  so  ill,  so  absorbed  or  so  dispersed  that  the 
popular  mind  cannot  well  be  arrested  and  the  people 
of  God  cannot  well  at  that  moment  offer  the  prayer  of 
faith  for  a  revival  of  God's  work.  But  those  seasons 
are  temporary  and  infrequent.  They  are  neither  the 
result  of  mere  Christian  apathy  nor  worldly  oppo- 
sition. 

The  heart-cry  of  ten  thousand  young  ministers  and 
Christians  is  to-day,  "  Can  we  have  a  revival  of  re- 
ligion ? "  In  all  the  variety  of  ordinary  circumstances 
the  answer  is  emphatically.  Yes.  And  this  decision  must 
be  settled  and  rooted,  for  all  doubt  here  will  weaken 
prayer  and  palsy  effort.  We  are  commissioned  by  the 
Lord  to  do  his  work.  God  does  not  send  forth  his 
children  to  fail.  "  In  me,"  says  God,  "  is  thine  help  " 
(Hosea  xiii.  9).  "  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake 
thee"  (Heb.  xiii.  5).  If  we  can  have  God  we  can  have 
a  revival.  And  does  he  begrudge  us  his  presence  and 
power  ?  Would  he  enable  Elisha,  by  miraculous  power, 
to  restore  to  the  young  theological  student  his  axehead 
that  had  fallen  into  the  Jordan,  would  he  clothe  the 
grass  and  feed  the  fowls  of  the  air,  would  he  give 
an  annual  harvest  to  the  toiling  husbandman,  —  and 


32 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  cry  of  his  child  for  the  gift-jQf 
the  Holy  Ghost? 

Is  it  said  we  must  seek  this  divine  influence  with 
submission  to  God's  will?  But  on  this  subject  he  has 
revealed  to  us  his  will.  "  Secret  things  belong  nnto  the 
Lord  our  God,  but  those  things  which  are  revealed/'  says 
Moses,  "  belong  unto  us  and  to  our  children  forever " 
(Deut.  xxix.  29).  He  is  pledged,  on  suitable  conditions, 
to  give  us  his  Spirit.  Yea,  from  the  throne  of  the 
omnipotent  God  the  command  comes  sounding  down  to 
each  of  us,  "  Be  filled  with  the  Spirit."  Is  it  presump- 
tion to  take  what  God  commands  me  to  have  ?  When 
Christ  says  to  the  sinner,  "  Come  unto  me  and  be  ye 
saved  ! "  is  he  to  say,  "  Lord  I  want  to  come,  I  hope  to 
come,  I  will  try  to  come,  if  it  is  thy  will ;  "  or  is  he 
to  say,  "  I  will  and  I  do  come,  and  thankfully  take  the 
mercy  thou  commandest  me  to  have  "  ?  So  the  Christian 
must  empty  his  heart  of  evil  and  unbelief,  and  thank- 
fully welcome  this  divine  influence.  This  is  one  of 
God's  plans  for  his  children  at  their  conversion.  He 
says,  "  Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God, 
and  that  the  Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you  ?"  (1  Cor, 
iii.  16.) 

God  takes  infinite  pleasure  in  saving  the  souls  for 
^Avhich  Christ  died,  through  the  influence  of  his  sanctified 
children.    But  he  will  be  inquired  of  to  do  these  things. 
Men  must  believe  and  pray  and  act.    We  may  be  wait- 
ing  for  the  descent  of  the  Spirit ;  but  Isaiah  complains 


ffOW  TO  SECURE  REVIVALS. 


33 


to  God,  "  And  there  is  none  .  .  .  that  stirreth  up  him- 
self to  take  hold  of  thee  "  (Isa.  Ixiv.  7).  Here  may  be 
the  great  difficulty.  And  again:  "Ye  are  the  temple  of 
the  living  God ;  as  God  hath  said,  I  will  dwell  in  them 
and  lualk  in  them  "  (2  Cor.  vi.  16).  God  is  vastly  more 
interested  in  this  revival  work  than  you  are.  He  gave 
up  Jesus  for  us ;  and  he  says,  "  He  that  spared  not  his 
own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he 
not  with  him  also  fredy  give  us  all  things "  (Kom. 
viii.  32).  What  thing  can  he  give  us  more  freely  than 
the  Holy  Ghost  ?  Jesus  came  on  purpose  to  seek  and 
to  save  the  lost.  For  this  very  object  he  sent  his  dis- 
ciples forth  with  the  promise,  "  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world  "  (Matt,  xxviii.  9),  and 
they  went  forth  preaching  everywhere,  the  "  Lord  word- 
ing with  them  "  (Mark  xvi.  20).  He  is  indeed  one  of 
us ;  yea,  "  in  all  things  it  behooved  him  to-  be  made  like 
unto  his  brethren"  (Heb.  ii.  17).  Yes,  this  Prince  of 
Heaven  is  our  brother.  As  a  loving  brother,  what  help 
is  he  not  able  and  willing  to  give  us  in  prosecuting  the 
work  for  which  he  died  ?  And  if  Christ  strengthens  us 
"  we  can  do  all  things."  If  then  the  entire  Godhead  — 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost  —  is  with  us  and  for  us 
and  in  us  ;  and  if  in  addition  the  angels  are  "  minister- 
ing spirits,  sent  forth  from  heaven  to  minister  for  them 
who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  "  (Heb.  i.  14),  what  won- 
derful possibilities  are  within  our  reach !  How  John 
and  Peter  stirred  up  the  Christians  of  their  day  !  With 


34 


REVIVALS:  HOW^  AND  WHEN? 


God's  Spirit  and  God's  word  and  the  strength  of  Christ 
this  can  now  be  done. 

Full  of  this  divine  power  we  turn  first  to  Christ's 
professed  followers.  Their  influence  is  indispensable. 
This  cause  is  precious  to  them.  With  the  divine  help 
they  cct7i  be  reached  and  moved.  They  can  give  you  a 
hearty  response,  for  the  Spirit  of  God  makes  the  AVord 
real ;  it  intensifies  and  impresses  the  truth.  How  Peter 
and  John  stirred  up  the  Christians  of  their  day.  This 
can  now  be  done.  Christians  are  constantly  doing  it. 
A  tearful  eye,  a  faltering  voice,  a  fervent  spirit,  will 
kindle  a  flame  in  some  Christian  heart.  And  this  divine 
impulse  y^j  be  extended.  Then,  "  If  two  of  you  shall 
agree  on  earth  as  touching  anything  that  they  shall  ask, 
it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my^  Father  which  is  in 
heaven  "  (Matt,  xviii.  19).  Press  forward  then  together, 
pleading. with  Christ  und  his  disciples,  and  so  sure  as 
God  reigneth  you  shall  reach  and  quicken  some  Chris- 
tian hearts. 

But  it  is  said,  Who  can  move  a  hardened  si7iner,  or 
how  can  it  be  done  ?  With  God's  help  you  can  do  it. 
You  must  receive  this  as  a  settled  fact.  Is  there  any 
doubt  of  it  ?  There  was  no  question  upon  this  point 
with  David.  He  says  to  God:  "Eestore  unto  me  the 
joy  of  thy  salvation,  and  uphold  me  with  thy  free  spirit. 
Then  will  I  teach  transgressors  thy  ways,  and  sinners 
shall  he  converted  unto  thee "  (Ps.  li.  12,  13).  Christ 
said  tfc)  Peter,  ■''Fear  not;  from  henceforth  thou  shalt 


EOW  TO  SECURE  REVIVALS. 


35 


catch  men"  (Luke  v.  10).  The  Bible  refers  to  sinners 
as  saved  by  the  influence  of  others.  Paul  says  to  Tim- 
othy, "  Thou  shalt  both  save  thyself  and  those  that  hear 
thee"  (1  Tim.  iv.  16).  Says  Paul:  "that  I  might  by  all 
means  save  some  "  (1  Cor.  ix.  2).  "  He  which  converteth 
the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  way  shall  save  a  soul 
from  death"  (James  v.  20).  "He  that  goeth  forth  and 
weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again 
with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him"  (Ps. 
xxvi.  6).  "  They  that  turn  ma)iy  to  righteousness  shall 
shine  as  the  stars  forever  and  ever"  (Dan.  xii.  3). 
Here  are  God's  positive  assertions.    The  agencies  in 

/  conversion  are  the  Triune  God,  his  truth,  and  the  sinner 
himself  And  yet  how  often  does  God  use  the  living 
Christian  as  an  active  power  in  this  work.  Some  of 
the  men  who  became  tlie  disciples  were  brought  to 
Christ  by  their  friends.  Jesus  healed  persons  on  the 
active  faith  of  Christian  friends.    What  faith  in  Christ 

^had  those  four  men  who  took  the  paralytic  and  let  him 
down  through  the  roof  into  the  house  where  Christ  was  ! 
and  that  mother  to  whom  Jesus  said :  "  O  woman,  great 
is  thy  faith ;  be  it  unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt ! "  (Matt. 
XV.  28.)    All  this  is  plain.    "No  good  thing  will  he 

^  withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly," — they  shall 
have  his  Spirit. 

God  gives  to  his  children  who  seek  him  a  spirit  of 
supplication  and  a  confidence  that  he  will  fulfil  to  them 
all  his  promises.    The  Spirit  helps  their  infirmities.  It 


36 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


makes  intercession  for  them  with  groanings  wliich  can- 
not be  uttered,  "  and  that  according  to  the  unll  of  Godr 
Such  prayers  cannot  be  left  unanswered.  The  Spirit  of 
God  .also  leads  a  man  to  the  use  of  wise  and  efficient 
efforts  for  the  salvation  of  others.  Christ  said  to  his 
disciples  :  "  The  Spirit  shall  guide  you  into  all  trutli. 
.  .  .  He  shall  take  of  mine  and  show  it  unto  you " 
(John  xvi.  13,  15).  Nathan  said  to  David,  "  Go,  do  all 
that  is  in  thine  heart,  for  the  Lord  is  with  thee " 
(2  Sam.  vii.  3.)  You  will  succeed.  Paul  and  Barnabas 
"  so  spake  at  Iconium  that  a  great  multitude  believed  " 
(Acts  xiv.  1).  So  in  thousands  of  cases  in  these  later 
years. 

It  is  the  power  of  God's  Spirit,  accompanied  by  ap- 
propriate effort.  This  power  God  \vaits  to  give  us.  It 
aids  Christian  work.  Here  is  a  familiar  instance.  We 
have  heard  of  the  minister  who,  after  a  heated  debate 
with  an  infidel,  said,  "  He  is  a  hopeless  case."  A  private 
Christian  had  spent  most  of  the  night  in  prayer  for  that 
.  same  man.  In  the  morning  he  entered  his  shop  and, 
greeting  him  warmly,  said,  "  My  dear  sir,  I  am  deeply 
concerned  for  your  salvation."  Overcome  with  his 
emotion  he  turned  and  left  him,  and  there  stood  the 
infidel  spellbound.  "Deeply  concerned  for  my  salva- 
tion ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  If  he  had  argued  I  could  have 
confounded  him.  But  here  is  a  new  argument."  He 
soon  followed  his  friend  to  his  home.  Entering  the 
little  chamber  where  he  was  still  in  prayer,  he  said  to 


THE  YOUNG  PEOPLE  AND  THE  BALL.  37 

him,  "  I  have  come  to  tell  you  that  I  am  deeply  con- 
cerned for  my  own  salvation."  And  there  they  knelt 
together  and  found  the  precious  Saviour. 

THE  YOUNG  PEOPLE  AND  THE  BALL. 

How  often  does  the  revival  come  through  the  deep 
emotion  of  the  pastor.  Eev.  Dr.  Lindsey  of  the  African 
Mission  is  the  son  of  the  President  of  the  Ohio  Univer- 
sity at  Athens.  The  president  preached  in  the  town 
church.  He  sometimes  reproved  the  folly  and  sin  of  his 
young  people.  On  one  occasion  they  had  been  attend- 
ing a  great  ball,  where  there  was  much  noise  and  confu- 
sion. The  next  Sabbath  the  young  people  were  at 
church,  expecting  from  their  pastor  a  faithful  and  indig- 
nant reproof.  He  preached  an  earnest  sermon.  Then 
leaning  his  head  upon  his  hand  he  said :  "  And  now 
what  shall  I  say  to  the  young  people  of  my  charge  ?  I 
can  say  nothing."  And  as  the  tears  rolled  down  his 
cheeks  he  did  add  :  "  Oli,  I  am  sorry,  I  am  sorry,  I  am 
sorry  !  "  His  heart  was  almost  broken.  Then,  with  a 
sob  in  his  voice,  he  cried  to  God  for  mercy.  The  whole 
congregation  was  melted.  That  day  was  the  commence- 
ment of  a  great  revival. 

One  Sabbath  Eev.  Dr.  Payson  came  down  in  front 
of  the  pulpit  and  said  :  "  I  want  to  talk  to  you  as 
dear  friends."  And  he  poured  out  his  full  and  bur- 
dened soul,  and  there  the  revival  commenced.  Dr. 
Spring  once  rose  in  his  pulpit  and  said  :    "  I  have 


38 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


preached  and  preached  for  naught.  This  morning  I 
cannot  preach ;  I  have  not  even  a  text."  Then  with 
many  tears  he  told  the  agony  of  his  desire,  and  the 
revival  came.  A  pastor  whom  I  once  knew  was  in- 
tensely moved  in  reference  to  the  condition  of  his 
people.  After  full  reconciliation  with  God  he  went 
with  his  anguish  to  individuals  and  to  the  church.  A 
nightly  prayer-meeting  of  Christians  followed.  Then 
came  means  adapted  to  the  increasing  interest,  and  a 
throng  of  souls  were  rescued. 

Now  if  God,  in  ordinary  circumstances,  puts  a  revival 
within  the  reach  of  right  feeling  and  wise  means,  then 
in  his  sovereignty  he  puts  into  our  hands  mighty  re- 
sults, and  rolls  upon  our  souls  stupendous  responsi- 
bilities wdiich  we  cannot  escape.  A  revival  of  religion 
is  our  imperative  duty. 

IF  WE  WOULD  HAVE  REVIVALS  WE  MUST  INTENSELY  DESIRE 
THEM. 

We  may  suppose  that  all  God's  true  children  desire  to 
see  the  church  revived  and  Jesus  honored  in  the  salva- 
tion of  souls  ;  but  how  many  of  Christ's  disciples  or  even 
of  his  ministers  are  manifesting  any  deep  anxiety  on  this 
subject  ?  What  pointed,  ardent,  and  persistent  efforts 
are  they  making  for  this  infinitely  desirable  object  ? 
When  we  realize  the  value  of  revivals  and  believe  that 
we  can  have  them,  and  feel  our  imperative  need  of 
them,  then  we  shall  desire  them  as  a  loving  mother 


WE  MUST  INTENSELY  DESIRE  REVIVALS.  39 

desires  the  recovery  of  her  dying  child,  and  we  shall 
do  our  best  to  secure  them.  Our  thoughts  and  hearts 
must  be  fixed  upon  these  points. 

I  have  seen  many  persons  so  intent  upon  this  work 
of  God  that  they  were  not  merely  ready  to  put  away 
sin  but  they  were  ready  to  endure  suffering  and  shame 
with  Jesus ;  they  were  ready  to  agonize  and  toil  for 
him.  They  were  ready  to  bring  their  gold  and  all  their 
earthly  possessions  and  throw  them  into  one  deep,  open 
grave  if  Jesus  would  only  give  them  his  "  ascension 
gift."  In  fact  their  reputation,  strength,  and  life  itself 
were  all  upon  God's  altar.  This  helped  them  to  deter- 
mination, plan,  persistence,  and  success.  What  intense 
desire  for  souls  do  we  see  in  the  Old  Testament  heroes 
and  in  the  great  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles  ! 

"  On  one  occasion,"  Eev.  Dr.  Griffin  says,  "  I  felt 
that  Jesus  was  passing  by,  and  that  we  were  to  have  no 
blessing.  I  went  to  the  church,  crying  '  only,  only,  only 
from  God.'  During  the  service  I  scarcely  looked  at  the 
people.  I  felt  that  whether  we  had  a  revival  was  to  be 
settled  only  in  heaven.  I  felt  that  I  was  taking  leave 
of  some  of  my  people.  I  came  near  falling.  Of  the 
one  hundred  soiils  converted  in  that  revival,  between 
forty  and  fifty  were  convicted  on  that  day." 

THE  VEHEMENT  YOUNG  PASTOR ! 

An  earnest  young  clergyman  tells  us  that  he  was  so 
filled  with  desire  that  he  exclaimed,  "  Lord,  kill  me  if 


40 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


you  do  not  give  me  a  revival ! "  He  adds  :  "  On  the  next 
Sunday  my  sermons  were  full  of  fire.  I  preached  every 
night  in  the  week.  Monday  night  I  called  for  in- 
quirers. Again  I  called  on  Tuesday  night.  Nobody 
stayed.  "Wednesday  night,  one  poor  ignorant  ill-clad  ser- 
vant girl  stayed.  Then  old  Adam  said  to  me  :  '  Umph ! 
There  is  your  sickle  full.'  My  second  thought  was,  God 
is  here ;  and  a  tide  came  over  me  like  the  return  of  the 
Eed  Sea,  and  it  swallowed  my  wicked  pride  as  that  sea 
swallowed  Pharaoh;  and  I  said,  *  I  would  work  a  thou- 
sand years  to  give  one  such  soul  to  Christ ; '  and  that 
spirit  gave  me  success."  And  that  spirit  will  give  any 
church  or  minister  success. 

IF  WE  WOULD  HAVE  REVIVALS  OUR  FULL  RESOLVE  MUST 
BE  :  "  GOD  HELPING  US,  WE  WILL  HAVE  THEM." 

We  have  seen  that  we  ourselves  may  be  filled  with 
the  Spirit,  that  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost  are  for 
us  in  this  his  work,  and  that  a  tearful  eye,  a  faltering 
voice,  and  the  Spirit's  power  will  kindle  a  f]ame  in  other 
souls  and  thus  extend  the  divine  impulse.  This  /  ivill 
is  a  sublime  force  in  working  out  any  sublime  project. 
Young  men  of  the  world  are  told  that  they  must  make 
themselves  or  come  to  nothing,  that  a  man  who  wills 
can  (D.  V.)  go  anywhere  and  do  anything  that  he  de- 
termines, that  he  must  have  a  controlling  dominant 
idea, —  first,  last,  and  greatest.  Such  men  are  promised 
eventual  success.    With  a  grand  object  in  view  they 


WILL-POWER  NEEDFUL. 


41 


are  never  frightened  by  dreams,  ghosts,  owls,  or  even 
by  reproach.  This  same  determination  is  a  mighty  fac- 
tor in  revival  work.  When  Jesus  says  to  the  sinner, 
"  Ye  will  not  come  to  me  that  ye  might  have  life,"  it 
is  his  instant  duty  to  say,  Lord,  I  will  and  I  do  now 
come."  And  when  the  Christian  hears  the  command  of 
God,  "Others  save  with  fear,  pulling  them  out  of  the 
fire "  (Jude  v.  23),  his  instant  answer  should  be  "  God 
helping  me  /  will.'' 

But  he  meets  unexpected  and  bewildering  obstacles. 
He  has  done  his  best,  and  all  is  failure.  His  temptation 
is  to  yield  the  point.  But  then  he  cries,  "  My  heart  is 
fixed,  I  will  not  yield!"  and  he  hears  the  words  of 
J esus,  "  If  ye  abide  in  me  and  my  words  abide  in  you, 
ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you ; " 
and  he  says,  "/  will  ask  and  receive  the  quickening  and 
converting  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  And  when  he 
sees  how  God  commended  the  prayer  of  Jacob,  saying 
to  him,  "  As  a  Prince  hast  thou  power  with  God," 
he  joins  the  cry  of  the  determined  old  Patriarch,  "  / 
tvill  not  let  thee  go  unless  thou  bless  me."  He  believes. 
He  trusts  God  perfectly.  All  is  right.  Help  has  come 
—  help  from  above.  "  God  has  permitted  him  to  unbar 
the  windows  of  heaven."  And  as  he  utters  the  prayer, 
"  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ? "  he  hears 
the  words  of  Nathan  to  David,  "  Go,  do  all  that  is  in 
thy  heart,  for  the  Lord  is  with  thee  "  (2  Sam.  vii.  3). 
And  thus  are  renewed  the  words  of  Azariah  to  Asa, 


42 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENI 


"Be  strong,  ...  for  your  work  shall  be  rewarded" 
(2  Chron.  xv,  7).  This  resolve  wonderfully  modifies  the 
results  of  a  minister's  life. 

TWO  YOrXG  PASTORS. 

Years  ago  two  classmates  were  called  to  be  pastors. 
They  were  good  young  men.  The  one  was  a  man  of 
good  abilities,  the  other  was  a  genius.  As  they  neared 
the  grave  the  latter  mourned  over  the  barrenness  of  his 
ministry.  The  former  exulted  over  the  prospect  of 
meeting  in  Heaven  many,  many  hundreds  of  his  s^jirit- 
ual  children.  Why  this  difference  ?  They  were  both 
highly  esteemed,  but  they  started  with  a  different  pur- 
pose. The  man  of  genius  proposed  to  preach  great  ser- 
mons. He  woidd  draw  and  hold  the  people  by  the 
power  of  his  argument,  the  fervor  of  his  intellect,  and 
the  soundness  of  his  doctrine.  He  had  a  literary  enthu- 
siasm for  the  Bible.  He  enjoyed  logic,  general  instruc- 
tion, and  brilliant  style.  He  lacked  faith  and  point,  and 
concentmtion  of  purpose  and  power.  He  often  neglect- 
ed to  pray  for  tlie  impenitent.  Having  preached  a 
good  sermon  he  left  the  result  with  a  sovereign  God. 

The  very  first  day  that  the  other  young  pastor  looked 
down  upon  his  congregation  he  said  to  himself :  "  These 
are  my  dear  people.  I  am  responsible  for  their  souls  ; 
and,  God  helping  me,  they  shall  he  won  to  Christ." 
And  so  he  gave  himself  to  the  work.  He  prepared  his 
ow^n  soul.    He  aroused  the  sympatliy  and  co-operation 


TWO  YOUNG  PASTORS. 


43 


of  the  church.  He  made  the  Sabbath-school,  the  meet- 
ings of  the  week,  and  the  personal  interviews  exceed- 
ingly interesting  and  impressive.  He  loved  the  souls 
of  his  people.  He  adopted  the  most  appropriate  revival 
methods.  His  whole  soul  was  fixed  on  one  resolve. 
True,  mighty  obstacles  arose.  True,  there  were  groans 
and  tears  and  a  wasting  away  of  human  flesh.  There 
were  fiery  zeal  and  pointed  words.  There  was  a  pur- 
pose that  would  not  yield;  and  so,  in  his  utter  helpless- 
ness, he  came  into  wrestling  contact  with  the  Almighty 
Helper,  and  the  blessing  came. 

In  winning  the  people  to  Christ  the  difference  be- 
tween these  men  was  about  the  same  that  we  see  in 
two  men  of  business.  The  one  hoped  for  it,  the  other 
believed  in  it ;  the  one  desired  it,  the  other  willed  it  ; 
the  one  tried  it,  the  other  did  it,  —  did  it  because  it  was 
the  one  thing  to  be  done.  The  man  of  genius  did  a 
good  work.  He  can  say,  "  I  preached  so  many  sermons, 
made  so  many  calls,  admitted  a  few  converts  to  the 
church,  and  I  leave  a  large  and  harmonious  congrega- 
tion." But  how  bitter  must  be  the  crushing  thought  that 
the  frown  and  the  curse  of  God  must  forever  rest  upon 
so  many  of  his  loving  people.  He  might  have  been  a 
very  apostle.  Can  he  at  last  merely  plead  the  size, 
interest,  satisfaction,  good  moral  character,  and  Bible 
intelligence  of  his  people  ?  Guided  by  the  Word,  the 
Spirit,  and  the  state  of  the  people,  many  pastors  and 
laymen  are  working  for  the  unsaved  with  an  assurance 


44 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


of  success.  They  fully  trust  the  promises  of  God  and 
press  forward  in  his  strength. 

IF  MINISTERS  WOULD  HAVE  EEVIVALS,  THEIR  OWN  SOULS 
MUST  BE  PREPARED  FOR  THEM. 

In  every  practical  work  there  is  a  first  step  to  be 
taken.  It  is  so  in  reference  to  revivals.  How  often 
have  I  seen  ministers  or  laymen  attempting  revival 
work !  They  complained  bitterly  of  the  coldness  of  the 
church.  They  preached  or  talked  or  prayed  well.  They 
had  not  seen  the  darkness  of  their  own  hearts.  Their 
own  spirits  were  unbroken.  They  had  not  come  into 
sweet  and  trusting  converse  with  Jesus.  And  so  they 
failed.  All  this  was  a  grave  mistake.  They  omitted 
to  take  the  first  step. 

The  farmer  cannot  secure  a  harvest  by  merely  sowing 
the  seed.  He  must  first  break  up  the  ground.  So  God 
says,  "  Break  up  your  fallow  ground !  "  Why  ?  "  For  it 
is  time  to  seek  the  Lord  till  he  come  and  rain  righteous- 
ness upon  you"  (Hosea  x.  12).  It  is  said  of  the 
Macedonians,  "  They  first  gave  their  own  selves  to  the 
Lord."  The  best  perfected  machinery  for  the  salvation 
of  souls  is  a  grand  thing.  But  what  is  it  without 
the  Spirit  of  God  ?  Elijah's  altar  was  a  fatal  failure 
without  the  fire  from  heaven.  In  spite  of  the  careless, 
the  worldly,  the  debased,  the  profligate,  and  the  scoffer, 
you  may  be  revived.  You  may  even  "  resist  the  devil 
and  he  will  flee  from  you"  (James  iv,  7).  "Nothing 


PREPARATION  OF  SOUL. 


45 


but  weakness  or  defection  inside  the  citadel  will  en- 
danger it."  Jesus  and  the  Holy  Ghost  are  waiting  to 
give  you  force  and  persistence.  Gamaliel  said  truly  to 
the  enemies  of  the  Apostles  :  "  If  this  be  of  God  ye 
cannot  overthrow  it."    Can  you  be  blocking  the  way  ? 

Disraeli  has  said :  "  Every  man  should  understand 
himself."  This  is  essential  in  business  and  indispen- 
sable in  God's  work.  While  you  really  desire  the  salva- 
tion of  souls,  God  may  be  calling  upon  you  to  take  up 
the  stumbling-block.  That  is  the  first  step  to  be  taken. 
You  must  search  out  the  depths  of  your  own  life  and 
character  in  the  light  of  God  and  man.  You  may  have 
been  dull  and  selfish  in  your  Christian  work,  profes- 
sional and  unbelieving  in  your  prayers.  Your  example 
may  have  brought  religion  into  disrepute.  You  may 
have  cherished  hard  feelings.  Is  your  leading  desire  for 
a  revival  legitimate  ?  You  may  desire  a  revival  on  ac- 
count of  your  own  reputation  and  the  outward  prosperity 
of  the  church.  A  neighbor  of  mine  once  held  a ^piOr 
tracted  meetiiig  wi^^T^  ^^f^  «^^owed  dpsign  of  pstt^blishing 
his  own  waning  popularity.  It  resulted  in  his  failure 
and  dismission.  You  may  strongly  desire  the  salvation 
of  souls,  with  small  appreciation  of  their  guilt  and  with 
slight  regard  for  the  honor  of  Jesus. 

Some  years  ago  I  was  deeply  affected  by  these  views 
and  examples.  I  had  seen  so  many  revivals  averted  by 
the  condition  of  pastors  that  I  devoted  the  entire  week 
of  prayer  to  a  preparation  of  my  own  heart  and  life. 


46 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


I  believed  that  I  was  a  Christian,  but  I  wanted  to  see 
myself  as  God  saw  me.  I  wanted  to  be  thoroughly 
humbled  and  completely  emptied  of  self.  I  wanted  to 
press  upon  the  church  and  the  world  the  overwhelming 
motives  of  God's  eternal  word  with  all  the  magnetism 
of  a  fervid,  confident,  loving,  divine  spirit.  In  pleading 
with  Jehovah  for  others  I  w^ould  obey  his  command, 
"  Be  ye  clean  that  bear  the  vessels  of  the  Lord "  (Isa. 
liii.  11).  /  On  Monday  I  considered  the  infinitely  holy 
character  of  God.  By  this  stupendous  theme  my  soul 
was  greatly  awed.  On  ^Tuesday  I  considered  my  own 
particular  sins,  in  the  presence  of  that  Jehovah  w^th 
whom  even  the  solemn  meeting  may  be  iniquity  (Isa.  i. 
13).  I  asked  myself  "What  of  your  pride,  ambition, 
self-seeking  ?  What  have  you  lacked  in  love,  trust, 
spirituality,  improvement  of  time,  and  toil  for  tlie  lost?" 
^On  Wednesday  I  considered  God's  kindness  to  me,  my 
family,  and  my  church.  I  was  amazed  at  his  munifi- 
cence ;  I  was  abased  at  my  own  unthankfulness.  But  he 
had  snatched  away  my  loved  ones.  Yet  he  enabled  me 
to  say,  "  O  God,  thy  will  be  done,  —  my  Jesus,  as  thou 
wilful  On  Thursday  my  questions  were  :  "Why  do  you 
"want  a  revival  of  religion  ?  Is  it  chiefly  to  build  up  one 
man  or  one  church,  to  make  your  people  more  genial 
and  loving  ?  Or  are  you  seeking  first  of  all  to  honor 
Jesus  in  the  salvation  of  the  perishing  ?  Have  you 
been  asking  God  for  things  which  you  do  not  expect  to 
receive  and  which  you  make  slight  efforts  to  secure." 


PERSONAL  PREPARATION. 


47 


By  this  time  I  was  ready  to  cry  with  the  Apostle : 
"Oh!  wretched  man  that  I  am!  who  shall  deliver  me 
from  the  body  of  this  death  ? "  (Rom.  vii.  24).  n  Fri- 
day, I  was  prepared  as  never  before  to  look  to  Jesus. 
Mere  earthly  advantages  seemed  to  me  like  the  idle 
wind.  I  confessed  and  loathed  my  sin.  "  I  looked 
upon  him  whom  I  had  pierced,  and  I  mourned  for 
him "  (Zech.  xii.  10).  I  laid  myself  upon  his  altar, 
to  do  and  to  suffer  his  will.  With  great  confidence  I 
sought  his  Spirit.  My  view  was  definite.  My  feeling- 
was  deep.  My  soul  was  filled  with  confidence  and 
peace.  Each  evening  during  the  week  I  had  poured 
forth  to  my  church  the  experience  of  the  day.  When 
told  by  one  of  them  to  look  to  Christ,  the  answer  was  : 
"  God's  Spirit  is  teaching  me  what  I  need.  It  is  mak- 
ing for  me  a  straight  path  to  my  Saviour."  At  the  close 
of  this  Friday  evening  numbers  took  my  hand  and  with 
glowing  faces  exclaimed  :  "  Oh,  what  a  meeting  we  have 
had !    We  knew  how  you  would  come  out." 

The  next  morning,  as  I  walked  down  Broadway,  I  was 
charmed  with  the  brightness  and  beauty  of  the  day.  My 
heart  was  filled  with  song  and  gladness.  In  the  midst 
of  the  great  throng  I  almost  exclaimed  aloud:  "  Jesus  is 
mine.  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul.  O  Lord^  thou  art 
my  God,  I  will  exalt  thee.  I  will  praise  thy  name, 
for  thou  hast  done  wonderful  things"  (Isa.  xxv.  11). 
In  this  movement  I  had  the  sympathy  and  fellowship 
of  the  church.     The  great  revival  had  commenced. 


48 


REVIVALS :  HO  W  AND   WHEN  f 


The  nightly  meetings  were  continued.  The  ungodly 
were  attracted.  We  deplored  their  condition.  We 
toiled  and  prayed  for  their  rescue.  God  had  restored  to 
us  the  joys  of  his  salvation ;  he  upheld  us  with  his 
free  Spirit ;  then  we  taught  transgressors  his  ways  and 
sinners  were  converted  unto  him. 

I  do  not  say  that  a  process  of  this  length  and  char- 
acter is  always  judicious  or  necessary.  But  we  are  so 
prone  to  formality,  self-seeking,  and  self-deception,  even 
in  our  holy  things,  that  it  is  always  profitable  to  heed 
the  exhortation  of  the  weeping  Prophet,  "  Let  us  search 

^nd  try  our  ways,  and  turn  again  to  the  Lord  "  (Lam. 
iii.  40).   Always  remembering  that  *'  the  preparations  of 

•^the  heart  in  man  and  the  answer  of  the  tongue  is  from 
the  Lord  "  (Pro v.  xvi.  1).  By  this  process  we  found, 
as  one  has  said:  "To  repent  is  to  be  forgiven,  to~give 
up  is  to  receive,  to  be  weak  is  to  be  strong,  to  be  noth- 
ing is  to  be  everything."  In  almost  every  church  I  be- 
lieve that  such  a  week  of  prayer  and  heart-searching 
would  lead  to  the  conversion  of  sinners.  What  an  ex- 
perience David  had  before  he  could  exclaim,  "  Then  will 
I  teach  transgressors  thy  ways  and  sinners  shall  be 
converted  unto  thee  !  "  (Ps.  li.  12). 

REV.  ANDREW  REED,  D.  D. 

Since  writing  the  above,  Sir  Charles  Eeed  of  London 
has  sent  me  the  Memoirs  of  his  father.  Dr.  Pieed  was  a 
pastor  in  that  city.    He  was  considered,  in  this  country 


REV.  ANDREW  REED,  D.D. 


49 


and  in  Europe,  one  of  the  most  able  and  useful  minis- 
ters of  his  age.  He  was  at  one  time  exceedingly 
anxious  for  a  work  of  grace.  He  began  with  himself. 
He  says  :  "  I  am  not  fitted  for  extra  work.  I  will  set 
apart  a  day  for  reading,  recollection,  and  prayer.  I  will 
pursue  this  course,  day  by  day,  until  the  blessing  comes. 
Without  this  blessing  I  am  a  poor,  lost  creature.  This 
darkness,  depravity,  and  earthliness  'goeth  not  forth 
but  by  prayer  and  fasting.'  Earthliness  and  sin  hang 
heavy  on  my  soul.  I  wait  in  agony  for  the  salvation  of 
God.  I  want  to  know  religion  in  the  form  of  freedom 
and  victory."  At  this  time  he  had  an  affecting  season 
of  prayer  with  his  nine  deacons.  And  now  was  to 
come  his  first  extra  lecture.  He  says  :  "  My  eye  was 
struck  with  this  passage,  '  No  man  saith,  what  have  I 
done  ? '  *  A  good  text,'  I  said,  '  for  my  people.' "  And 
then  he  cried :  "  Alas !  it  is  ever  thus,  ever  losing  personal 
interest  in  my  official  duties.  '  What  have  I  done  ?  ' 
This  I  repeated  many  times.  My  sin,  ingratitude,  and 
unprofitableness,  the  forbearance,  pity,  and  goodness  of 
God,  were  present  to  me.  I  cast  myself  at  the  mercy- 
seat,  exclaiming,  *I  cannot  go  on  without  God.'  I 
thought,  I  wept,  I  offered  broken  prayer.  I  see  it,  I  feel 
it ;  I  would  not  be  the  hateful  thing  that  sin  has  made 
me.  I  looked  at  his  infinite  mercy  and  then  I  cried  :  'Is 
anything  too  hard  for  the  Lord?  No,  no,  if  thou  wilt 
thou  canst  make  me  whole.'  I  read  the  32d  of  Jeremiah, 
the  6th  of  Isaiah,  and  the  40th  Psalm.    I  had  admiring 


50 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


thoughts  of  God  and  breathings  after  his  Spirit.  I  was 
ready  to  say  to  everything  earthly,  '  Touch  me  not,  I 
am  God's.'  " 

Such  was  Dr.  Eeed's  preparation  for  an  extra  effort  for 
the  salvation  of  souls.  AVe  are  not  surprised  that  a  re- 
vival of  two  years  followed,  and  that  more  than  two  hun- 
dred persons  united  with  his  church,  including  his  third 
son.  Such  was  the  humiliation  and  prayer  of  the  man 
whose  unequalled  success  in  the  cause  of  humanity  and 
religion  secured  the  attention,  applause,  and  co-opera- 
tion of  lords  and  princes.  In  conducting  this  work  he 
preached  ten  pointed  sermons  to  his  church.  They  took 
part  in  the  meetings  for  prayer.  The  anxious  crowded 
his  house,  and  great  numbers  found  the  Saviour. 

In  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Moody  establislied  a  prayer-meeting 
for  ministers,  in  January,  1880.  This  meeting  will 
never  be  forgotten.  Mr.  Moody  and  most  of  the  minis- 
ters were  longing  for  a  personal  blessing.  The  time  was 
spent  in  confession  and  strong  outcrying  to  God.  There 
were  tears  and  sobs.  Many  have  said,  "  We  were  never 
at  such  a  meeting  before."  These  meetings  were  con- 
tinued. The  result  is  a  great  blessing  upon  the  minis- 
ters, and  through  them  to  the  people.  Numbers  of  them 
are  now  enjoying  revivals  in  their  own  churches  away 
from  Mr.  Moody's  meetings.  They  now  see  what  that 
preparation  is  which  they  have  so  long  needed.  And 
they  now  see  just  how  that  blessing  may  be  obtained. 

Said  Dr.  Edward  Payson,  "I  never  feel  like  saying  a 


HEART-LIFE  ESSENTIAL. 


51 


word  to  sinners  until  I  have  a  broken  heart  myself." 
Said  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  "  I  never  had  a  revival  with- 
out a  tussle  with  myself,  the  church,  and  the  devil." 

/ 

TO  INSUEE   REVIVALS    OF    RELIGION    THE    CHURCH  MUST 
HAVE  A  PREPARATION  OF  HEART  AND  LIFE. 

"  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord ;  make  straight  in 
the  desert  a  highway  for  our  God  "  (Isa.  xl.  3).  The 
crooked  shall  be  made  straight  and  the  rough  places 
plain,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  revealed  (Isa. 
xl.  6).  Said  Moses  to  God,  when  sent  to  warn  the  king, 
"  Behold  the  children  of  Israel  have  not  hearkened  unto 
me,  how  then  shall  Pharaoh  hear  me  "  (Ex.  vi.  12).  If 
our  Israel  are  not  right  with  God,  how  shall  our  Gallios, 
our  ]^abals  and  our  Pharaohs  be  won  to  Jesus. 

The  pastor,  whose  life-business  is  the  study  of  the 
Word  and  the  care  of  souls,  must  have  the  quickening 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  How  mucli  more  do  they  need  it 
who  are  filled  with  worldly  cares  ?  It  is  indeed  indis- 
pensable. The  pastor  is  to  pray  and  labor  for  this  re- 
sult. It  is  his  imperative  business  to  marshal  the  sac- 
ramental host  and  lead  them  on  to  conquest.  He  must 
see  that  they  are  thoroughly  equipped  for  the  conflict ; 
otherwise  they  may  be  scorned  and  baffled.  This  is 
sometimes  a  most  difficult  task.  But  with  God's  help 
it  can  and.  must  be  accomplished.  We,  need  not  wait 
for  the  quickening  of  the  entire  church.  Some  of  them 
may  be  waiting  for  some  manifestation  of  God's  mercy. 


52 


REVIVALS:  NOW  AND  WHEN? 


The  conversion  of  a  sinner  may  arouse  and  enlist  them 
in  the  cause. 

It  is  sometimes  said  by  the  pastor,  "  I  am  preaching 
the  gospel,  I  am  sowing  the  good  seed,  and  I  leave  the 
result  with  God,"  But  suppose  you  are  sowing  the 
good  seed  among  thorns  and  stones  and-  briers.  Is  not 
Christ  saying  to  you,  "  the  wicked  one  catcheth  away 
that  which  was  sown "  or,  "  because  they  had  no  root 
tliey  withered  away  "  (Matt.  xiii.  6). 

In  my  early  ministry  an  elder  of  a  country  church 
came  to  me  and  said,  "  My  pastor  and  our  church  are 
very  anxious  that  you  should  come  out  and  labor  with 
them."  When  asked  about  the  condition  of  the  church 
he  said,  "  They  want  a  revival  of  religion  and  they 
are  thoroughly  prepared  to  work  for  it."  I  trusted  his 
word.  With  much  inconvenience  and  hardship  I  left 
my  parish  and  preached  every  evening  for  nearly  two 
weeks.  The  community  was  aroused.  The  sanctuary 
and  the  inquiry -meeting  were  filled.  But  there  was 
scarcely  a  single  conversion.  The  church  were  inter- 
ested spectators.  As  I  was  leaving,  the  elder  said  to 
me,  "  I  see  now  that  we  were  utterly  unprepared  for  the 
work."  This  was  the  last  time  I  ever  labored  for  a 
revival  of  religion  among  the  unconverted  until  my 
own  heart  and  some  members  of  the  church  were  pre- 
pared for  the  effort. 

According  to  the  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  a  cold, 
dull,  drowsy  church  cannot  enliven  men  who  are  dead 


HEART-LIFE  ESSENTIAL. 


53 


"in  trespasses  and  sins."  Everything  waits  for  the 
^  bride  elect,  which  is  the  Church  of  Christ.  Their  sin 
must  be  annihilated.  The  world  to  them  must  be  cru- 
cified. They  must  pluck  out  the  right  eye  and  cut  off 
I'  the  right  hand.  They  must  destroy  the  accursed  thing 
from  among  them.  God  is  saying,  sanctify  yourselves 
(Josh.  vii.  11).  With  love  and  trust  bow  to  the  pre- 
cious Saviour. 

What  then  is  the  pastor  to  do  ?  In  the  great  revival 
under  Hezekiah,  he  himself  was  first  aroused.  Then 
they  took  counsel.  Then  the  priests  sanctified  them- 
selves. Then  the  king  sent  letters,  by  post,  from  Dan  to 
Beersheba,  exhorting  the  people  to  come  up  to  a  week  of 
humiliation  and  prayer,  and  turn  again  unto  the  Lord 
God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob  "  (2  Chron.  xxx). 
They  not  only  kept  the  week  of  prayer,  but  the  whole 
assembly  "  took  counsel  to  keep  other  seven  days  with 
gladness."  Here  is  an  example  for  the  pastor.  As  soon 
as  he  has  found  the  Saviour  in  all  his  preciousness,  he  is 
to  strive  for  the  quickening  of  individual  Christians. 

The  most  common,  easy,  and  unobtrusive  step  is  a 
neighborhood  or  church  meeting  for  prayer  and  confer- 
ence. This  may  continue  five  or  six  evenings  each  week 
until  numbers  are  prepared  to  labor  for  the  impeni- 
tent. Then  may  follow  preaching-services.  Some  pre- 
fer Evangelistic  prayer-meetings.  Here  the  pastor 
presides  and  briefly  presents  some  appropriate  theme, 
while  all  should  strive   to  gather  in   and  win  the 


54 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


impenitent  to  Christ.  This  is  philosophy  and  Scrip- 
ture. Pentecost  was  preceded  by  the  most  remarkable 
prayer-meeting  ever  held. 

Those  most  earnest  for  revivals  strive  in  some  M^ay 
for  the  quickening  of  God's  people.  Said  Peter  to  the 
followers  of  Christ,  "  I  think  it  meet  to  stir  you  up  by 
putting  you  in  remembrance  (and  that)  as  long  as  I  am 
in  this  tabernacle  "  (2  Peter  ii.  13).  So  Paul  and  John- 
How  the  sainted  Edwards  rang  out  his  warnings  to  the 
Church  of  Christ.  So  in  modern  times.  Dr.  Kettleton 
always  threw  the  people  off  from  all  human  flepeiride;iof>. 
He  insisted  on  prayer,  fasting,  and  confessiqi]i__af_sin. 

Other  methods  are  often  successful.  A  pastor  who  has 
been  marvellously  blessed  says :  "  I  have  never  known 
the  following  process  to  fail  of  a  revival,  —  solemn 
sermons ;  a  day  of  fasting,  prayer,  and  confession  ;  a 
committee  to  visit  every  family.  Sometimes  a  revival 
pastor  is  called  in.  The  church  must  be  pressed  with 
the  idea  that  salvation  is  to  come  out  of  Zion.  '  My 
soul,  wait  thou  only  upon  God,  for  my  expectation  is 
from  him '  (Ps.  Ix.  5).  Short,  appropriate,  frequent  sing- 
ing; each  preaching -service  followed  by  a  brief  in- 
quiry-meeting ;  faithfulness  to  the  sinner,  —  showing 
him  that  if  he  is  given  over  by  the  Spirit  of  God  he 
is  lost  forever,  and  that  if  he  is  sin-sick  there  is  life, 
life  eternal,  for  tlie  asking." 

Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey,  late  President  of  Amherst  Col- 
lege, says :  "  After  a  revival  in  my  old  parish  a  good 


HEART-LIFE  ESSENTIAL. 


55 


deacon  said  to  me,  '  Before  the  revival  I  wondered  why 
you  preached  so  long  and  pointedly  to  the  church.  We 
thought  it  was  cruel  to  lay  the  charge  of  not  having  a 
revival  to  us.  But  I  see  now  how  needful  it  was.' " 
Dr.  Humphrey  adds  :  "  If  we  had  the  facts,  I  believe 
it  would  be  found  that  nearly  all  the  most  powerful 
revivals  have  been  preceded  by  earnest  and  faithful 
appeals  to  the  church." 

Dr.  J.  r.  Kendall  thus  writes  of  the  great  revival  in 
the  churches  of  Laporte,  la. :  "  For  the  first  ten  days 
the  preaching  was  to  the  churches  only.  The  blessing 
to  them  has  been  immeasura})le.  Their  testimony  is, 
"  We  never  before  knew  so  much  of  the  grace  of  God 
and  never  before  were  our  feet  so  firmly  upon  the 
rock.'  There  were  in  these  meetings  from  three  to  four 
hundred  persons  hopefully  saved."  The  church  must 
move  with  the  pastor. 

In  preparing  for  revivals  in  former  days,  ministers, 
in  this  country,  have  often  urged  upon  the  church  the 
profoundest  motives  with  great  fidelity.  Conscience 
has  been  awakened.  There  have  been  great  heart- 
searchings.  Tliey  have  been  told  to  "  confess  to  God, 
on  their  knees,  that  they  had  forsaken  the  Lord,  that 
they  had  lived  for  the  world  more  than  for  Christ,  that 
their  example  had  quieted  sinners,  that  they  had  pro- 
voked the  Holy  One  of  Israel  unto  anger  and  were 
utterly  unfit  to  labor  for  souls."  Thus  the  deceived 
and  the  faithless  have  been  alarmed.    Confessions  of 


66 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


sin  have  been  made.  Tears  of  penitence  have  flowed. 
Love  to  Jesus  and  his  cause  has  prevailed  and  the 
godless  have  turned  to  Christ. 

But  we  are  to  rebuke  and  reprove  and  awaken  the 
church  with  "  all  long-suffering."  We  are  not  to  scold 
them,  or  to  be  always  insisting  on  law  and  duty.  There 
is  a  soft  spot  in  men's  hearts  that  can  be  reached  by 
pathos  and  love.  I  knew  a  pastor  who  was  especially 
hard  and  faithful.  One  evening,  as  he  was  leaving  his 
meeting,  a  good  sister  said  to  him,  "I  am  so  tired  of 
being  scolded."  He  was  startled.  He  carried  this  re- 
proof to  the  cross.  His  heart  was  moved.  He  said, 
"  I  try  to  be  faithful,  but  how  rarely  do  I  strive  to  melt 
them  with  my  own  broken  heart  and  with  the  precious 
love  of  Jesus."  Let  us  always  remember  that  while  the 
godless  and  the  faithless  must  be  moved  by  a  sense  of 
guilt  and  danger,  yet  more  souls  are,  in  the  end,  won  to 
Jesus  by  tears  than  by  frowns. 


II. 

IF  WE  WOULD  HAVE  REVIVALS  WE  MUST  MAKE  THEM 
OUR  SUPREME  BUSINESS. 

Not  a  secular  but  a  sacred  business.  It  is  not  merely 
a  reputable  performance  of  the  routine  affairs  of  the 
church  and  the  household.  Says  Robert  Hall :  "  The 
grand  scope  of  the  ministry  is  to  bring  men  home  to 
Christ."  This  also  is  the  supreme  business  of  all  Christ's 
disciples.  And  yet^what  crowds  of  people  merely  re- 
peat  their  prayers.  Satisfied  with  this  they  wait  for 
God  to  do  their  work.  But  oh,  this  calamitous  waiting  ! 
With  some  it  continues  through  life ;  but  in  your 
passivity  you  cannot  expect  God  to  give  you  this  stu- 
pendous blessing.  This  revival  work  is  an  ahsorhing 
business  —  a  business  in  which  you  are  to  be  an  in- 
dispensable factor.  If  God  gives  you  aid  you  may 
expect  it  in  answer  to  your  prayer  and  in  help  to  your 
own  exertion.  "  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  where- 
fore criest  thou  unto  me  ?  Speak  unto  the  children  of 
Israel  that  they  go  forward  "  (Ex.  xiv.  15).  They  had 
prayed ;  now,  trusting  in  him,  they  are  to  act.  God 
does  not  do  our  part.  We  are  to  do  our  best,  then  he 
will  do  the  rest. 


58 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


A  friend  of  mine,  while  a  young  missionary,  was  lost 
in  the  Himalaya  Mountains.    His  brethren  were  out  in 
^  search  of  him.    When  found  they  are  reported  to  have 
said  to  him,  "  We  have  been  praying  for  you  these  two 
hours."    "  Yes,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but  I  think  brethren 
^  if  you  had  prayed  for  me  one  hour  less  and  had  searched 
'Ss)  jfor  me  one  hour  earlier  you  would  have  found  me 
^  sooner."    When  you  can  pray  trustingly  for  a  friend, 
then  bring  him  to  Christ ;  and  when  you  can  pray 
trustingly  for  a  revival  of  religion,  then  consider  wiiat 
is  needed,  and  enter  upon  that  work  with  plan  and 
purpose.     It  is  a  business  requiring  common  sense 
'  enterprise,  and  patient  toil. 

Our  great  Creator  is  a  God  of  order.  He  transacts 
his  affairs  in  a  business  way.  The  mighty  sphere  of  the 
starry  universe  does  not  fall  back  one  second  in  its 
ceaseless  course.  "And  God  saw  everything  that  he 
had  made,  and  behold  it  was  very  good  "  (Gen.  i.  31). 
Said  Jesus  to  his  parents,  "Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be 
about  my  Fathers  business  "  (Luke  ii.  49) :  and  how  he 
commended  the  business  ability  of  the  man  who  gained 
five  talents.  "  And  they  that  be  wise  .  .  .  and  turn  many 
to  righteousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars  forever  and 
ever "  (Dan.  xii.  3).  Paul  and  the  early  disciples  laid 
their  plans  and  made  their  herculean  efforts  under  the 
guidance  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Says  Nehemiah,  when 
rebuilding  Jerusalem,  "I  appointed  every  man  in  his 
business  "  (Neh.  xiii.  30).   The  pastor  and  the  physician 


REVIVALS  OUR  SUPREME  BUSINESS.  59 

are  professional  men.  The  business  of  one  is  the  heal- 
ing of  the  body ;  the  business  of  the  other  is  "  the  cure 
of  souls."  The  young  physician  gets  what  training  he 
can  and  then  goes  forth  to  his  one  grand  business ;  and 
the  one  that  cures  the  worst  diseases  and  the  most  of 
them  is  the  best  doctor.  And  yet  God  does  the  heal- 
ing. In  the  same  way  the  young  divine  goes  forth  to 
the  grandest  business  on  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  and  he 
who  under  God  saves  the  hardest  souls  and  the  most  of 
them,  and  enlists  them  most  successfully  in  the  Master's 
work,  he  is  the  best  pastor.  For  this  end  he  preaches 
and  prays  and  toils  with  them.  He  reaches  the  con- 
science and  the  lieart.  There  is  point  and  pungency. 
He  examines  each  class  of  persons,  and  he  adapts  his 
methods  to  their  peculiar  difficulties ;  and  lie  follows  up 
this  work  with  prayer  and  toil  until  sinners  are  safe  in 
the  arms  of  Jesus.  Both  these  professional  men  are 
guided  by  business  principles. 

But  I  know  a  pastor  in  a  distant  city  who  once  wept 
because  he  could  have  no  revival.  The  next  Sabbath  he 
preached  a  faithful,  feeling  sermon.  During  the  week 
he  did  his  part  in  a  large  jovial  party,  and  then  fell  back 
into  his  old  routine.  I  know  a  pastor  who  preached 
an  earnest,  tender  sermon,  and  the  next  Sabbath  ex- 
changed pulpits  with  a  cold-hearted  neighbor.  I  know 
a  pastor  who  preaches  well,  but  he  makes  no  prayerful 
visits  and  uses  no  other  converting  means.  People  ad- 
mire his  sermons,  but  they  win  no  souls  to  Christ.  Are 


60  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

sermons  the  one  end  ?  These  are  no  men  of  business. 
Their  people,  with  whom  they  must  stand  at  the  Judg- 
ment, are  threatened  with  destruction;  but  they  take 
no  efficient  means  for  their  rescue.  Should  physicians 
allow  their  patients  to  die  through  such  inefficiency 
and  neglect  they  would  be  condemned  and  discarded. 
What  can  be  said  of  those  pastors  who  do  not  make  "  the 
cure  of  souls  "  their  one  chief  aim  and  business  ? 

THE  CALIFORNIA  CHURCHES. 

In  one  of  their  cities  the  state  of  religion  was  so  low 
that  the  ministers  of  the  three  churches  were  reproached 
with  the  charge  that  there  had  never  been  a  soul  con- 
verted through  their  efforts.  In  view  of  this  stigma 
neither  of  the  pastors  left  his  charge  nor  dragged  along 
in  dreary  routine ;  but  the  question  arose,  "  What  can 
we  do  ? "  Christians  were  called  together.  It  was  an 
earnest  business  meeting.  Everything  was  dark.  They 
saw  that  God  alone  could  help,  and  their  first  resolve 
was  to  plead  with  heaven  and  earth  till  this  reproach 
was  removed.  So  from  day  to  day  they  conferred  to- 
gether and  prayed  to  God.  But  the  season  was  incle- 
ment ;  the  weather  interfered ;  yet  still  they  prayed  and 
worked.  And  now  Providence  began  to  smile.  The 
meetings  increased  in  number  and  power.  Sinners  were 
converted.  The  news  spread.  The  people  were  visited. 
The  work  of  grace  advanced  until  a  new  aspect  was 
given  to  society.     The  three  churches  were  greatly 


THE  CALIFORNIA  CHURCHES. 


61 


strengthened,  and  the  writer  exclaims :  "  I  am  so  hot 
from  the  flame  of  a  glorious  revival  of  religion  that  I 
want  to  set  fire  to  the  Eocky  Mountains.  We  sin- 
cerely feel  that  this  is  all  of  the  Lord." 

Now  the  project  undertaken  by  these  Christians  was 
a  business  just  as  wise  and  successful  as  was  that  of 
Nehemiah  and  his  people,  while  the  wrathful  Sanballat 
was  crying,  "  What  do  these  feeble  Jews  ?  "  and  the  scoff- 
ing Tobiah  was  exclaiming,  "  If  a  fox  go  up  he  shall 
even  break  down  their  stone  wall "  (Neh.  iv.  2,  3).  God 
accomplished  both  through  the  courage,  prayer,  and 
business  efforts  of  his  children.  And  now  what  church 
or  churches  may  not  in  this  or  in  some  other  way  seek 
and  find  a  blessing  ?  If,  in  the  darkness  and  difficulty, 
the  question  comes,  "  What  shall  I  do  ? "  listen  to  the 
words  of  Jesus  to  his  disciples,  "  He  (the  Comforter) 
shall  teach  you  all  things"  (John  xiv.  26).  Seek  this 
guidance.  Then  look  at  the  circumstances,  and  think 
and  study,  just  as  a  mechanic,  merchant,  physician,  or 
lawyer  would  do. 

Business  men  make  thorough  preparation  for  the 
busy  season.  They  attend  to  buying  and  selling,  sow- 
ing and  reaping,  at  appropriate  times.  They  watch  the 
state  of  the  markets,  and  take  advantage  of  every  fa- 
vorable change ;  and  many  secure  customers  by  sending 
out  samples  of  their  goods.  But  says  God,  "  The  mer- 
chandise of  wisdom  is  better  than  the  merchandise  of 
silver"  (Prov.  iii.  14).    Now  examine  the  condition  of 


62 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


souls  and  the  state  of  things.  Decide  what  is  wise  to 
be  done.  Then  believe,  and  step  by  step  press  forward 
under  the  lead  of  Jesus.  If  you  have  purpose,  plan, 
and  adaptation  in  the  pulpit,  prayer-room,  dwelling,  and 
street,  it  will  arm  you  with  deadly  earnestness  in  carry- 
ing out  your  project.  It  requires  business  capacity  in 
good  men  to  enlist  God's  people,  to  win  tlie  wicked  to 
Christ,  to  gather  converts  into  the  Church  of  our  Lord, 
and  to  train  them  in  his  service.  And  the  cry  will 
sometimes  come,  "  0  Lord,  w^ho  is  sufficient  for  these 
things  ? "  And  then  come  the  w^ords  quick  and  strong, 
"  Behold  God  is  mine  helper  "  (Ps.  liv.  4).  And  that  is 
enough.  There  are  men  toiling  for  gold  whose  struggles 
are  fiercer  than  yours,  for  in  all  your  appalling  difficul- 
ties you  may  be  tranquil  in  God.  There  are  men  who 
rush  into  the  deadly  conflict,  and  there  are  physicians 
who  cure  contagious  and  deadly  diseases  with  no  trust 
in  God.  They  even  die  in  their  endeavors,  with  no 
promise  from  God.  But  in  the  darkness  of  your  ex- 
tremity a  form  of  light  stands  at  your  side,  and  the 
sweet  whisper  comes,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you."  In  truth  a 
revival  of  religion  brings  to  man  the  most  exultant 
hours  that  are  ever  enjoyed  in  this  mundane  sphere. 

IF  WE  WOULD  HAVE  REVIVALS  WE  MUST  EXERCISE  TACT 
IN  THE  MASTERY  OF  OBSTACLES. 

There  are  times  in  revival  work  when  something 
more  is  needed  than  mere  ordinary  business  capacity. 


THE  SKILL  OF  NEHEMIAH. 


63 


Tact  is  not  mere  genius  nor  mere  talent.  It  is  the 
faculty  of  searching  into  difficult  things  and  of  devis- 
ing ways  and  means  of  securing  desirable  results.  Job 
(xxix.  16)  says :  "  The  cause  which  I  knew  not  I 
searched  out." 

THE  SKILL  OF  NEHEMIAH. 

During  the  dispersion  of  the  Jews  one  lone  man  un- 
dertook a  stupendous  and  seemingly  hopeless  project. 
He  was  cup-bearer  to  the  great  king  Artaxerxes.  In 
the  face  of  the  fiercest  opposition  he  would  go  up  and 
rebuild  the  walls  of  his  beloved  Jerusalem  and  revive 
the  true  worship  of  God.  But  the  king  would  naturally 
oppose  this  step.  First  then  he  weeps  and  mourns  and 
fasts  and  prays  and  confesses  his  sins  and  pleads  God's 
promises.  The  great  wisdom  of  this  step  will  appear. 
He  did  not  seek  the  help  of  the  king,  but  lie  entered 
his  presence  with  a  sad  countenance.  Then  skid  the 
king  :  "  Why  is  thy  countenance  sad  ?  This  is  nothing 
else  but  sorrow  of  heart."  Then  was  he  sore  afraid,  but 
he  prayed  to  God  and  told  the  king  all  his  desire,  and 
asked  for  protectors  and  letters,  and  all  needed  means 
of  rebuilding  the  city.  Three  days  after  his  arrival  at 
Jerusalem  he  went  out  secretly  by  night  to  survey  the 
broken  walls  and  the  burned  gates.  He  then  opened 
the  matter  to  the  remnant  of  the  Jews  that  were  there 
"  in  great  affliction  and  reproach."  Then,  armed  with 
sword,  javelin,  and  trumpet,  they  went  to  the  work  amid 


64 


RE  VI VA  LS:  HOW  A  ND   WHEN  ? 


the  taunts  and  threats  of  outside  enemies.  In  fifty-two 
days  the  walls  were  finished.  Then  came  the  most 
difficult  task  of  all  —  a  revival  of  pure  religion.  For 
eight  days  all  the  people  were  gathered  in  the  street. 
And  they  made  themselves  booths.  They  were  in- 
structed and  counselled.  "And  all  the  people  wept 
when  they  heard  the  words  of  the  Law  "  (Neh.  viii.  9). 
They  kept  a  solemn  fast,  and  they  confessed  their  sins. 
"And  when  Ezra  blessed  the  Lord,  the  Great  God,  all 
the  people  answered  Amen,  Amen,  with  lifting  up  their 
hands.  And  they  bowed  their  heads  and  worshipped 
the  Lord  with  their  faces  to  the  ground."  And  so  the 
people  are  consecrated  to  God  and  his  worship  is  re- 
stored. In  this  sublime  history  there  is  not  one  osten- 
sible miracle.  It  is  God  hearing  prayer.  It  is  God 
giving  to  Neheniiah  not  mere  business  ability,  but  the 
most  consummate  tact  and  the  most  exhaustless  energy 
in  worldly  and  spiritual  projects. 

I  love  to  read  the  history  of  this  man.  It  is  for  us. 
Let  us  study  it,  and  mark  and  imitate  the  tact  with 
which  this  simple  cup-bearer  in  an  enemy's  land  secured 
such  a  secular  and  spiritual  revolution.  He  was  trust- 
ful, ivise,  enthusiastic,  determined,  no  matter  how  dark 
the  prospect  or  how  huge  the  obstacles.  The  Lord  his 
God  guided  every  step.  So  will  God  give  wisdom  to 
you,  largely  and  lovingly,  without  upbraiding. 

How  adroitly  and  with  what  a  feeble  instrument  did 
Jesus  revive  religion  in  Samaria !   A  weary  traveller,  lie 


THE  SKILL  OF  NEHEMIAIL 


65 


asks  a  poor  woman  for  water  at  Jacob's  Well.  This 
interests  her.  He  then  refers  to  the  living  water  which 
he  could  give  her.  This  arouses  her  curiosity.  He  did 
not  say  to  her,  "  You  are  a  poor,  miserable,  unclean 
Samaritan,"  but  he  proceeds  to  tell  her  sad  history. 
This  amazes  her.  Then  follows  some  spiritual  instruc- 
tion and  reproof.  This  leads  her  to  say,  "  I  know  that 
Messias  cometh  which  is  called  Christ "  (John  iv.  25). 
Then  come  the  astounding  words,  "/  that  speak  unto 
thee  am  He!'  Then  the  woman  believes,  and  instantly 
she  thinks  of  others,  and  she  goes  for  them  and  brings 
them  out  to  Jesus.  And  in  that  revival  of  "  two  days  " 
(John  iv.  40)  many  were  born  of  God.  Eead  that  mas- 
terpiece of  wisdom  by  which  St,  Paul,  in  the  presence 
of  that  august  and  pompous  court,  led  King  Agrippa 
to  exclaim,  "  Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian" (Acts  xxvi.  28).  And  then  his  address  to  the 
philosophic  Greeks  at  Mars  Hill  (Acts  xvii.).  So,  St. 
Peter  at  the  Pentecost.  In  these  cases  Jesus,  Paul,  and 
Peter  adapted  themselves  to  their  hearers.  They  first 
interested  them.  They  spoke  to  them  of  personal  mat- 
ters. They  wisely  led  them  on  to  the  subject  of  per- 
sonal salvation  ;  and  thus  they  became  all  things  to  all 
men  that  they  might  by  all  means  save  some  (1  Cor. 
ix.  22).  And  so  in  hopeless  cases  men  at  this  day,  by 
study  and  prayer,  are  led  to  circumvent  the  adversary 
and  open  the  way  to  a  revival  of  religion.  Good  has 
even  come  out  of  disasters. 


66 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


HOW  THE  DEVIL  WAS  FOILED. 

Mr.  William  A.  Booth,  a  devoted  elder  in  one  of  our 
New  York  churches,  once  said  to  me,  "  Did  I  ever  tell 
you  how  the  Devil  was  caught  in  his  own  net?"  —  "No." 
—  "  Well,"  said  he,  there  was  an  important  Orthodox 
church  in  Connecticut.  I  w^eut  out  there  for  a  summer 
vacation.  I  found  the  church  sadly  divided  about  re- 
vival measures.  The  pastor  had  left  and  the  church 
had  scarcely  been  opened  for  months.  It  seemed  to  be 
a  hopeless  case  ;  but,  after  considering  the  condition  of 
these  hostile  parties,  I  went  over  to  the  city  of  New 
Haven,  and  invited  a  sterling  young  man  to  come  out 
to  the  place  on  Thursday  next.  On  Monday  I  informed 
a  friend  of  his  coming,  and  was  told  to  invite  him  to 
his  house.  This  was  between  ourselves.  On  Thursday 
evening  he  was  at  the  prayer-meeting,  and  was  invited 
to  speak.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  I  said  to  some 
of  the  brethren :  '  This  young  man  will  be  here  over 
the  Sabbath  ;  suppose  you  ask  him  to  preach  ? '  He 
preached  that  Sabbath,  and  the  next  and  the  next,  and 
attended  the  prayer-meetings.  In  a  few  weeks  the 
interest  and  union  was  such  that  a  four  days'  meeting 
was  decided  upon.  The  Eev.  Dr.  Taylor  and  some  of 
the  best  ministers  to  be  found  were  there.  The  house 
was  crowded.  The  spirit  of  the  Lord  was  with  his 
people.  They  were  again  united  and  earnestly  at  work. 
The   inquiry-room  was  filled,  and  many  souls  were 


A  GREAT  VICTORY. 


67 


born  of  God.  To  this  day  that  has  been  a  flourishing 
church.  Thus  was  the  adversary  caught  in  his  own 
snare." 

]N"o  idle,  bungling,  inconstant,  timid  man  need  expect 
much  success  in  revivals.  Individuals  and  communi- 
ties are  very  unlike.  And  some  pastors  yield  the  hope 
of  a  revival  because  they  cannot  have  one  in  their  own 
pet  way.  They  should  study  and  meet  the  peculiarities 
of  their  people.  Christ  died  for  them.  He  will  show 
his  disciples  a  way  to  win  them. 

A  GREAT  VICTORY. 

Eev.  Dr.  Jacob  Little  of  Granville,  Ohio,  at  one  time 
found  his  church  in  a  low,  discouraged  condition,  and 
his  people  given  up  to  worldliness.  In  describing  the 
thing  he  says  :  "  The  young  people  of  Granville  were  all 
getting  crazy  with  ball-going.  They  would  not  go  to 
church.  What  now  can  be  done  ?  I  finally  laid  this 
plan.  First  of  all  I  found  the  most  influential  young 
man  among  the  ball-goers.  I  asked  him  who  was  the 
most  interesting  young  lady.  I  saw  the  two  together. 
This  pleased  them.  I  then  Vjroached  my  plan  for  a 
Bible  class,  with  them  for  managers.  The  thing  took. 
We  met  at  the  house  of  the  young  man's  father,  who 
was  a  Judge  and  a  Universalist.  I  kept  clear  of  the 
church  and  the  minister's  house.  When  I  faced  that 
company  I  was  put  to  my  wits.  What  could  I  say 
from  the  Bible  to  interest  them  ?    The  Judge  slammed 


68 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


his  door  between  us  and  his  office.  I  finally  gave  them 
a  little  history,  a  little  geography,  some  literature,  a 
good  deal  of  fun,  and  at  the  end  a  very  little  religion 
that  should  pinch  the  conscience.  The  next  time  more 
came  and  the  Judge  left  the  door  open  a  crack.  The 
next  time  he  threw  the  door  wide  open  and  turned 
toward  us.  Before  spring  the  Judge  and  all  his  family 
were  converted  and  my  Bible  class  was  the  most  popu- 
lar thing  in  Granville."  That  Bible  class  continued 
while  the  Doctor  remained  in  town  and  was  often  at- 
tended by  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons. 

Now  it  may  be  said,  "  I  am  preaching  the  gospel  and 
am  striving  to  do  my  duty,  what  more  can  I  do  ? "  The 
Doctor  was  not  dealing  in  mere  abstract  truth.  His 
great  study  was  fo  meet  the  peculiarities  of  the  case. 
His  first  great  point  was  to  interest  the  young  people. 
In  this  way  only  could  he  draw  and  hold  them.  First 
of  all  he  reached  the  leaders.  This  was  true  wisdom. 
How  many  entirely  ignore  such  methods.  St.  Paul  ex- 
celled in  such  skill.  Any  man  of  good  sense  can  do 
this.  It  is  said  that  a  poor,  ignorant  boy  may  become 
a  skilful  catcher  of  fish.  He  learns  to  adapt  the  bait 
and  its  position  to  each  class  of  fishes.  Christ  said  to 
Peter  and  Andrew,  "  Follow  me  and  I  will  make  you 
fishers  of  men"  (Matt.  iv.  1),  i.  e.,  I  will  give  you  skill 
in  this  work.  Look  to  him.  Study  closely  the  condi- 
tion and  characteristics  of  individuals  and  communities. 
Then  decide  what  are  the  things  most  likely  to  catch 


A  GREAT  VICTORY. 


69 


their  attention  and  interest  their  feelings.  Then,  trust- 
ing in  God,  go  bravely  forward. 

Dr.  Little  has  also  described  a  revival  in  Granville 
where  darkness,  mud,  and  storm  could  not  hinder  the 
gathering  of  the  people.  First  of  all  the  church  was 
wisely  and  deeply  enlisted.  Most  of  the  male  mem- 
bers of  the  churcli  arose  in  the  social  meetings,  made 
confession,  gave  in  their  testimony,  and  meltingly  invited 
sinners  to  Christ.  Then  individuals  went  to  houses, 
shops,  and  everywhere,  inviting  sinners  to  the  gospel 
feast.  Parents  were  pleading  with  God  for  their  chil- 
dren and  weeping  with  joy  and  gratitude.  Young  con- 
verts were  intensely  engaged,  and  religion  was  the  all- 
absorbing  topic  in  taverns,  stores,  and  sidewalks. 

There  is  always  something  in  the  way  of  a  revival. 
The  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  Devil  are  always  busy. 
The  obstacles  are  different  in  different  parishes.  Some- 
times they  are  exceedingly  small.  A  very  simple  but 
common  example  may  amuse  or  interest  young  pastors. 
Many  years  ago  I  was  pastor  of  a  church  where  there 
was  a  large,  efficient  choir.  But  they  were  sadly  frivo- 
lous. There  were  frequent  whispers,  merriment,  and 
note-writing.  This  gave  me  much  thought  and  anxiety. 
I  w^as  sometimes  tempted  of  the  Devil  to  reprove  them 
openly.  They  deserved  it.  But  I  said :  "  This  will  repeL 
them.  My  desire  is  to  win  them, — to  win  them  first  to 
myself,  and  then  to  Christ ; "  and  so  I  studied  the  case 
and  looked  to  God  for  wisdom.    And  here  came  in  my 


70 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


rule  to  treat  with  special  attention  those  persons  by 
whom  I  was  annoyed.  I  called  upon  each  one  of  them. 
Without  allusion  to  their  trifling  I  spoke  to  them  of  my 
love  of  music,  and  of  my  connection  with  an  acade- 
mic and  collegiate  choir.  I  spoke  to  them  of  my  high 
appreciation  of  their  singing,  and  of  our  obligation  to 
them  on  this  account.  I  soon  after  arranged  a  series  of 
evening  prayer-meetings  in  the  chapel.  I  then  called 
upon  the  choir  again,  invited  them  to  our  meetings,  and 
requested  them  to  sit  together  in  a  forward  seat  and  to 
conduct  the  singing.  A  large  number  of  persons  soon 
after  united  with  our  church.  Among  them  was  every 
member  of  that  troublesome  choir.  And  without  ever 
suspecting  my  annoyance,  they  were  for  many,  many 
years  my  help  and  my  joy. 

We  are  attracted  by  the  man  of  "  glittering  generali- 
ties." We  are  amazed  at  the  power  of  the  logical  rea- 
soner.  We  are  moved  by  the  "  sparkling  figures  "  and 
gushing  emotion  of  the  man  of  eloquence.  These  may  be 
good  men.  They  may  be  doing  good,  but  they  may  lack 
that  faculty  by  which  revivals  are  secured.  Here  they 
may  fill  the  public  eye,  but  how  few  of  their  spiritual 
children  will  reach  heaven !  A  profound  lawyer  may  gain 
but  few  cases.  A  learned  physician  may  be  a  poor  prac- 
titioner. A  man  may  gloat  over  the  beauty  and  fra- 
grance of  flowers,  and  have  no  skill  in  producing  them. 
So  I  remember  an  able  pastor  who  had  a  beautiful  theory 
of  revivals.   But  he  was  so  wanting  in  tact  that  he  never 


A  GEE  AT  VICTORY. 


71 


executed  his  own  theories.  His  neighbor  was  intent 
upon  the  business  of  turning  men  to  Christ.  He  con- 
templated the  value  of  lost  souls,  and  he  sought  out  the 
best  methods  of  saving  them.  He  had  a  profound  ap- 
preciation of  the  power  of  God's  Word  and  the  infinite 
possibilities  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  adapted  himself 
to  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  his  people  and  to  the 
obstacles  that  lay  in  his  way.  He  had  an  ardent  way 
of  "putting,  emphasizing,  pointing,  and  setting  home 
the  verities  of  the  gospel."  He  was  not  only  a  tre- 
mendous worker,  but  he  had  peculiar  tact  in  enlisting 
the  young  and  the  old  in  revival  labors.  And  so  his 
church  increased  with  unparalleled  rapidity. 

The  man  who  uses  the  best  means  for  the  conversion 
of  souls,  accompanied  by  the  mightiest  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  is  the  wisest  man  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
"  He  will  be  the  St.  Paul  of  his  generation,"  and  will 
"  shine  as  the  stars  forever  and  ever."  This  tact  is  worth 
acquiring.  And  it  can  he  acquired.  Mr.  Moody  began 
as  a  bungler.  He  failed  as  a  young  convert.  He  then 
looked  to  God,  to  himself,  and  the  world  to  see  what 
he  could  do.  By  constant  study  of  the  wants  and  the 
methods,  by  exact  adaptation  to  each  person  and  circum- 
stance, by  untiring  zeal  and  dependence  on  God,  and 
by  doing  his  best  every  time,  he  became  an  adroit 
workman.  Let  each  disciple  lean  on  Jesus  and  make 
the  trial. 


72 


RE  VIVALS :  HO  W  AND  WHEN  ? 


WE  MUST  ABANDON  OUR  DEFECTIVE  PRAYERS. 

Every  true  Christian  believes  in  the  efficacy  of 
prayer,  but  there  are  grave  and  fatal  mistakes  in  ref- 
erence to  the  petitions  that  w^ill  prevail.  Euskin  says, 
in  substance:  "When  we  hear  a  man  swear  in  the  street 
we  say  he  is  taking  the  name  of  God  in  vain.  But 
when  a  man  asks  God  for  v^'hat  he  does  not  really  want 
he  takes  God's  name  in  vain  in  a  way  twenty  times 
worse  than  that."  An  honest  man  once  confessed  to 
me  that  during  all  his  life  he  had  trusted  in  the  for- 
malities of  prayer  to  save  him.  But  Jesus  said:  "Not 
every  one  that  saith  unto  me  Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  No,  not  even  if  such 
petitions  are  accompanied  by  the  most  costly  incense  or 
the  most  heroic  deeds. 

Faulty  prayers  are  often  described.  It  needs  but  few 
words  to  show  their  character  and  results.  There  is  no 
true  prayer  without  the  heart,  and  none  without  con- 
fidence in  God.  You  would  seek  a  favor  from  a  person 
with  little  enthusiasm  if  you  had  no  idea  of  success. 
So  when  you  ask  God  with  no  expectation  of  an  answer. 
The  wicked  have  said  to  God,  "What  profit  shall  we 
have  if  we  pray  unto  him  ?"  (Job,  xxi.  15.)  You  may 
pray  for  the  pardon  of  sin  and  still  cherish  it.  "  If  I 
regard  iniquity  in  my  heart  the  Lord  will  not  hear  me  " 
(Ps.  Ixvi.  18).  You  may  say  to  God,  Forgive  us  our 
debts  as  we  forgive  our  debtors,"  when  you  do  not  for- 


ABANDON  DEFECTIVE  PRAYERS.  7B 

give  others  at  all.  You  ask  God  to  feel  just  as  hardly 
toward  you  as  you  feel  toward  them. 

There  may  be  an  impressive  manner,  tone,  and  ex- 
pression without  any  true  prayer.  Hearing  a  cry  of 
distress  I  one  day  looked  upon  the  sidewalk  and  saw  a 
little  child  upon  her  face,  screaming  to  her  mother,  who 
was  walking  with  a  friend  in  front  of  her.  This  cry 
was  unnoticed.  Directly  the  child  ran  near  to  her 
mother  and,  throwing  herself  upon  her  face  again,  cried 
more  loudly  than  before.  Still  there  was  no  response. 
I  knew  that  lady  to  be  a  most  tender-hearted,  loving 
mother.  She  would  have  rushed  to  her  child  at  the 
first  moan  of  real  distress.  So  in  many  public  and 
private  appeals  to  God  he  sees  no  urgent  desire,  no  deep 
anxiety,  and  no  clinging  faith.  The  conditions  of  an 
answer  are  not  met. 

Prayer  is  faulty  when  men  come  into  the  presence  of 
God  and  address  him  with  no  becoming  sense  of  his 
character  or  presence.  "  Let  not  thine  heart  be  hasty 
to  utter  anything  before  God  "  (Ecc.  v.  2).  I  was  once 
greatly  struck  with  the  propriety  and  outward  respect 
with  which  persons  came  into  the  presence  of  royalty. 
So  while  the  great  Jehovah  would  have  us  approach 
him  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  with  holy  boldness,  he  is 
"  yet  to  be  had  in  reverence  of  all  them  that  are  about 
him  "  (Ps.  Ixxxix.  7). 

Persons  pray  against  the  fascination  and  oppression 
of  the  world  while  they  make  no  effort  to  shake  off 


74 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


that  world,  which,  like  a  millstone  about  their  neck, 
is  threatening  to  sink  them  to  perdition.  Others  ask 
amiss  that  they  may  consume  it  upon  their  lusts. 
How  many  others  are  saying  in  public  and  in  private, 
"  0  God,  revive  thy  work,  send  down  thy  holy  Spirit," 
while  they  are  doing,  despite  to  the  waiting  Spirit,  and 
are  seeking  a  fresh  revival  of  earthly  interest.  Such 
hackneyed  words  and  formal  sentences  are  a  chattering 
noise  before  the  Almighty.  If  loud  and  confident,  they 
are  like  swelling  sounds,  pouring  forth  from  the  frigid 
pipes  of  some  grand  organ.  How  presuming  to  expect 
an  answer.  "  God  is  not  mocked."  They  will  secure 
God's  frown.  How  fearful  is  this  sin.  Do  you  say 
then,  "  Shall  we  cease  praying  ?  "  Yes,  cease  from  such 
asking.  Xever  breathe  another  breath  of  prayer  until 
it  part  from  your  lips  winged  for  the  throne  of  God. 
Never  approach  him  again  without  asking,  "  What  is 
my  errand  ?  "  Bring  no  more  vain  oblations.  Incense 
is  an  abomination  to  me  (Isa.  i.  13).  Never  again 
insult  God  by  presenting  to  him  a  heartless  petition. 
And  yet  his  command  to  you  is,  "  Pray  without  ceas- 
ing." Never  cease  praying  until  the  blessing  comes. 
As  Christ  said  to  the  Apostles,  "  Tarry  ye  in  the  city 
of  Jerusalem  until  ye  be  endued  with  power  from 
on  high "  (Luke  xxiv.  49).  AVe  must  thoroughly 
trust  and  earnestly  plead  the  promises  of  God.  Then 
our  work  will  be  easy  and  our  success  will  be  sure. 
Why  is  God  so  constantly  insisting  on  trust,  belief,  faith  ? 


ABANDON  DEFECTIVE  PRAYERS. 


75 


Because  it  is  tlie  grand  foundation  of  all  religious  suc- 
cess. You  reject  the  proposition  of  a  business  man  be- 
cause you  have  no  faith  in  him.  When  this  distrust 
of  men  ^reads  there  is  a^iuamfiss  panic.  When  the 
Christian  reads  the  words  of  the  Apostle,  "  For  all  the 
promises  of  God  in  Christ  are  Yea,  and  in  him  Amen, 
unto  the  glory  of  God  by  us  "  (2  Cor.  i.  20),  he  knows 
perfectly  well  that  not  one  jot  or  tittle  of  God's  word 
shall  fail.  And  yet  when  he  reads  of  God's  paternal 
anxiety  to  endow  him  with  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  even  hears  the  command  of  God,  "  Be  filled  with 
the  Spirit "  (Eph.  v.  18),  he  does  not  trust  it.  It  is  a 
dead  letter  to  him.  And  so  the  Spirit  is  grieved,  God  is 
dishonored,  and  sinners  are  lost.  He  may  pray  and  toil. 
He  may  walk  by  sight  and  work  with  force.  But  he 
does  not  believe  God's  promise  to  him  —  and  so  he  is 
numbered  among  those  of  whom  it  is  said,  "  And  Jesus 
did  not  many  mighty  works  there,  because  of  their  un- 
belief" (Matt.  xiii.  58). 

Itjs  the  privilege  of  man  to  trust  God  for  a  present 
blessing.  How  often  do  we  think  of  the  four  men  who 
let  down  the  leper  through  the  roof  of  the  house  into 
the  presence  of  Jesus  (Mark  ii.  3).  Their  faith  and 
effort  were  immediately  recognized  and  rewarded.  So 
with  great  numbers  who  brought  their  afflicted  ones  to 
Christ  for  healing.  Jesus  said  to  the  Euler,  when  he 
was  about  to  raise  his  daughter  from  the  dead,  "  Be  not 
afraid,  only  believe  "  (Mark  v.  36) ;  and  when  Jesus 


76 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


healed  the  woman  who  had  an  issue  of  blood  twelve 
years,  he  said  to  her,  "  Daughter  thy  faith  hath  made 
thee  whole  "  (Mark  v.  34).    He  healed  theni  at  once. 

Dii.  s.  I.  prime's  affecting  description. 

^in  that  intensely  interestiog  and  widely  known  book 
f  The  Power  of  Prayer,"  by  Kev.  S.  Irenseus  Prime,  D.D., 
of  the  "  New  York  Observer,"  we  have  such  striking  in- 
cidents as  these.  A  young  man  in  New  York  was 
deeply  concerned  for  the  salvation  of  his  father  in  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  left  the  Fulton  Street  prayer-meeting 
and  took  passage  on  a  Long  Island  Sound  steamer.  He 
took  a  stateroom  alone,  and  spent  nearly  all  the  night 
in  wrestling  prayer  for  his  father.  What  a  place  for 
prayer.  And  yet  a  window  in  heaven  was  opened  upon 
that  stateroom.  On  reaching  home  the  next  evening 
he  took  down  the  Bible  and  said :  "  Father,  let  us  read 
a  chapter  in  the  Bible  and  pray."  "Certainly"  said  the 
father,  "  you  read."  After  reading,  his  father  led  off  in 
prayer,  pouring  forth  the  most  fervent  petitions.  It  was 
the  first  out-gushing  of  the  new-born  soul.  "  Father," 
said  the  son,  as  they  arose  from  their  knees,  "liow  long  is 
it  since  God  gave  you  a  heart  to  pray  ?  "  "I  first  began 
to  pray  last  night.  I  was  awakened  in  the  night  and 
cried  to  God  for  mercy,  and  he  has  had  mercy  upon  me." 
That  son  had  an  unconverted  sister  in  Boston.  He  went 
at  once  to  tell  her  of  her  father's  conversion.  He  told 
her  the  joyful  news  and  exhortf^d  her  to  surrender  her- 


DR.  PRIME'S  AFFECTING  DESCRIPTION.  77 

self  at  once  to  God.  Christian  friends  united  in  prayer 
for  her.  She  yielded,  and  in  twenty-four  hours  the 
brother  was  on  his  way  to  tell  the  father  what  the 
Lord  had  done  for  her  soul. 

In  both  these  cases,  faith  was  the  foundation  of 
success.  The  conversion  of  the  father  immediately 
followed  the  prayer  and  faith  of  the  son.  The  conver- 
sion of  the  sister  soon  followed  the  prayer  and  faith 
and  needed  entreaty  of  the  brother.  I  have  myself 
witnessed  hundreds  of  cases  where  God  bestov/ed  an 
immediate  blessing  on  the  prayer  and  work  of  faith 
for  souls. 

One  day  I  became  mysteriously  interested  in  the  con- 
version of  a  most  decidedly  irreligious  man.  His  case 
seemed  to  be  hopeless.  Although  he  was  a  compara- 
tive stranger,  I  took  an  opportunity  that  day  of  speak- 
ing to  him  tenderly  of  the  truth  of  religion  and  of 
my  intense  desire  for  his  salvation.  That  evening  he 
was,  by  my  invitation,  at  our  evangelistic  prayer-meeting. 
That  evening  God  blessed  to  him  an  appropriate  word. 
He  stopped  for  conversation  and  prayer,  and  retired  to 
his  home  a  new  man.  Twelve  hours  before  that  even- 
ing he  was  an  open  opponent  of  religion.  From  that 
evening  he  has  been  a  valiant  disciple  of  Christ. 

Being  similarly  exercised  in  reference  to  the  im- 
mediate conversion  of  a  young  man  who  was  neglect- 
ing his  salvation,  I  followed  him,  one  evening,  from  a 
prayer-meeting  to  his  home.     There  I  conversed  and 


78 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


prayed  with  him  until  he  yielded  himself  to  Christ. 
He  afterward  studied  for  the  ministry,  and  has  wel- 
comed many  souls  to  the  table  of  the  Lord.  Thus  in 
personal  interviews  and  in  public  meetings  I  have 
seen  multitudes  bowing  humbly  and  suddenly  to  the 
cross  of  Christ.  And  these  converts  have  run  well. 
In  these  cases  Christians  had  some  view  of  the  value 
and  danger  of  souls.  They  saw  that  Satan  and  not 
God  was  detaining  the  sinner  from  Christ.  They  felt 
that  an  immediate  surrender  to  Jesus  would  meet  the 
very  object  for  which  he  died.  They  remembered  such 
words  as  these  :  "God  noiv  commandeth  all  men  every- 
where to  repent "  (Acts,  xvii.  30) ;  "  To-day  if  ye  will 
hear  his  voice  harden  not  your  heart "  (Ps.  xcv.  7) ; 
"  Eemember  now  thy  Creator." 

But  I  hear  the  Christian  saying,  "  I  have  for  many 
years  been  praying  for  the  conversion  of  a  particular 
soul,  and  I  trust  that  sometime  God  in  his  sovereignty 
will  answer  those  prayers."  While  God  in  his  sov- 
ereignty has  been  waiting  these  many  years  for  your 
prayer  and  work  of  faith  for  the  immediate  conversion 
of  that  soul.  That  sinner  should  now  yield  to  Christ. 
Your  failure  is  not  the  fault  of  God's  sovereignty. 
"  Yea,  let  God  be  true,  but  every  man  a  liar  "  (Eom. 
iii.  4).  God  answered  every  prayer  of  faith  in  the 
Bible.  Christ  stands  by  his  irrevocable  words  to  the 
blind  men,  "According  to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you  ' 
(Matt.  ix.  29). 


FAITH  THE  CROWNING  POWER. 


79 


Seek  that  faith  now.  Trust  God  to  convert  that  soul 
now,  and  do  your  best  to  win  him  now  to  Christ,  and  you 
may  hear  God  saying  to  you,  "  Before  they  call  I  will 
answer,  and  while  they  are  yet  speaking  I  will  hear " 
(Isai.  Ixv.  24).  Oh,  the  power  of  faith  !  Jesus  did 
not  say  to  the  mother  whose  daughter  he  healed,  "Great 
is  thy  desire  or  humility  or  patience,"  but  he  exclaimed, 
"  0  woman,  great  is  thy  faith!' 

This  is  the  first  thing  in  conversion  to  God.  "  Jesus 
takes  the  royal  diadem  of  salvation  and  places  it  upon 
the  brow  of  faith."  Justified  by  faith,  saved  by  faith, 
crowned  by  faith.  The  man  who  thoroughly  trusts  God 
is  a  mighty  force.  As  a  prince  he  hath  power  with 
Jehovah.  The  hand  of  faith  can  reach  the  heavens. 
The  spirit  of  faith  can  move  the  eternal  throne.  For  all 
things  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  prayer,  —  with  de- 
sire? No.  — With  hope?  No.— With  tears?  No.  But 
all  things  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  prayer,  believing, 
ye  shall  receive  (Matt.  xxi.  22).  For  the  Spirit  itself 
maketli  intercession  for  you  according  to  the  will  of 
God.  Prayer,  dictated  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  is  always 
answered.  What  blessing  has  not  faith  secured  ?  All 
things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth  (Mark  ix.  23). 
Through  faith  the  Old  Testament  worthies  "  obtained 
promises,  and  out  of  weakness  were  made  strong  "  (Heb. 
xi.  33,  34).  And  Paul  speaks  of  the  exceeding  greatness 
of  his  power  to  us  ward  who  believe  (Eph.  i.  19). 

Skeptics  and  philosophers,  drunkards  and  worldlings, 


80 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


warriors  and  anaks,  kings,  and  priests,  led  on  by  the  arch- 
fiend himself,  cannot  stop  a  revival  of  religion.  For 
they  can  do  nothing  with  the  prayer  and  work  of  faith. 
They  quail  before  the  soldiers  of  the  cross  who  are 
fighting  the  good  fight  of  faith,  armed  with  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit.  Jesus  has  supreme  control  over  princi- 
palities and  powers  and  might  and  dominion  and  every 
name  that  is  named  (Eph.  i.  21).  His  host  is  "more 
terrible  than  an  army  with  banners  "  (Song  of  Solomon, 
vi.  4).  At  their  approach  there  will  be  trembling  and 
rout  in  the  enemy's  camp,  for  with  the  shield  of  faith 
"  they  shall  be  able  to  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the 
wicked,"  (Eph.  vi.  16). 

There  is  nothing  more  dismal,  fatal,  and  common  to 
man  than  unbelief  And  there  is  nothing  more  insult- 
ing to  God.  "Let  not  the  wavering  man  think  that 
he  shall  receive  anything  of  the  Lord "  (James  i.  7). 
Without  faith  you  refuse  to  accept  God's  transcend- 
eritly  precious  gifts.  Do  you  now  ask,  "  How  shall  I 
obtain  this  confidence  in  God  ? "  You  may  be  living 
in  a  closed  house.  "  Throw  open  the  blinds."  Let  in 
the  glorious  sunbeams.  "The  entrance  of  thy  words 
giveth  light "  (Ps.  cxix.  130).  You  are  first  to  believe 
every  word  in  God's  book.  And  it  is  "  sparkling  all 
through  with  sure  and  brilliant  proniises."  Study  these 
promises,  for  in  Christ  they  are  all  "  Yea  and  Amen." 
Think  of  God's  character  and  Christ's  love.  But  this 
is  not  all. 


THE  GREAT  PHYSICIAN. 


81 


The  sick  man  not  only  believes  that  his  physician  is 
skilful,  but  he  believes  on  him.  He  puts  his  life  into 
his  hands.  John  frequently  speaks  of  believing  on 
Christ.  Paul  and  Silas  said  to  the  Jailer  :  "  Believe  on 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  thou  shalt  be  saved  and 
thy  house  "  (Acts  xvi.  31).  You  are  just  to  put  your- 
self, your  household,  or  your  friends  into  the  arms  of 
Jesus,  resting  on  him  with  a  thousand  times  more 
confidence  than  you  would  in  the  hands  of  the  most 
skilful  physician  on  earth.  Plead  with  God  for  this 
perfect  faith  in  Christ,  and  rest  not  until  you  have  this 
blessing. 

Filled  with  this  spirit,  fasten  your  mind  and  heart  on 
some  one  thing  at  a  time.  Take  the  consecration  of 
your  own  heart  and  life  to  God,  or  the  conversion  of  a 
particular  soul  or  household  or  class  or  circle,  or  the  de- 
scent of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  the  church  and  the 
community.  Then  take  the  promise  of  Christ  to  his 
disciples,  "And  all  things  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in 
prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive  "  (Matt.  xxi.  22). 

Pray  for  the  perishing.  Jesus  died  to  save  the  lost. 
His  promises  are  sure.  And  yet  how  many  prayers  in 
the  home,  the  chapel,  and  the  church  utterly  ignore  the 
ungodly.  I  once  heard  a  man  go  through  his  regular 
routine  of  prayer,  who  never  alluded  to  the  anxious 
request  of  his  young  friends  to  be  remembered  in  his 
petitions.  How  we  pray  for  our  loved  ones  when 
dangerously  ill.    And  yet  how  unspeakably  alarming  is 


82 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


the  condition  of  the  impenitent  I  How  their  salvation 
would  honor  J esus  !  Kneel  before  the  cross.  Plead  his 
promises  for  the  perishing  until  you  can  say,  "  '  He  is 
faithful  that  promiseth '  (Heb.  x.  23).  He  has  my  per- 
fect trust." 

CHURCHES  OF  CHRIST  MUST  DO  THEIR  BEST  TO  SECURE 
THE  REVIVAL  PRAYED  FOR. 

Mere  prayer  is  insufficient.  True  faith  is  not  death. 
It  worketh  by  love  (Gal.  v.  6).  Jesus  said :  "My 
Father  worketh  hitherto,  and  I  work  "  (John  v.  17) ;  "Go 
work  to-day  in  my  vineyard."  The  faith  of  Abraham, 
Noah,  Paul,  and  Luther  wrought  with  their  works.  God 
answers  prayer  on  specified  conditions.  One  of  these  is 
appropriate  effort.  "  Why  call  ye  me  Lord,  Lord,  and  do 
not  the  things  which  I  say  ?  "  (Luke  vi.  46). 

If  you  are  disabled  and  destitute,  you  can  merely 
pray  for  food.  You  can  also  pray  for  rain.  But  if  you 
ask  for  a  crop  of  grain  God  will  not  give  it  unless  you 
till  and  sow.  If  you  ask  for  bread  or  riches  they  will 
not  drop  down  from  heaven.  But  God  may  bless  your 
efforts  to  obtain  them.  As  the  people  of  God,  you  pray 
for  the  Spirit  to  move  and  save  the  perishing,  while 
your  cry  must  be,  "Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  us  to 
do  ? "  You  will  do  your  best ;  then  trust  Jesus  to  do 
the  rest.  Here  is  true  faith,  with  wise  and  energetic 
action.  "  You  are  workers  together  with  him  "  (2  Cor. 
vi-  1).    In  this  way  Luther  set  in  motion  a  succession 


THE  BANKER. 


83 


of  movements  that  "  startled  into  life  the  dreamers  of 
his  age." 

MINISTERS  AND  CHRISTIANS 

must  watch  and  improve  the  providences  of  God.  The 
providence  as  well  as  the  Spirit  of  God  has  much 
to  do  with  revivals.  The  health  of  men,  the  locality  of 
individuals  at  a  particular  moment,  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances of  the  church  and  the  people,  the  state  of  the 
weather,  striking  disasters,  hard  and  depressing  times, 
the  sudden  death  of  friends,  may  modify  the  action  of 
men. 

THE  BANKER. 

The  cashier  of  a  bank  in  this  city  was  in  the  habit  of 
passing  our  church  on  week-day  evenings.  Our  evan- 
gelistic meetings  were  so  distasteful  to  him  that  he 
always  walked  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  street. 
As  he  was  passing  one  evening,  the  door  opened.  He 
saw  the  light  and  he  heard  the  singing.  Stopping  an 
instant,  he  said  to  hiniself,  "  That  is  sweet  music,  I  will 
just  look  in."  There  he  found  the  prayer,  the  testi- 
mony, and  the  breathings  of  God's  Spirit.  And  it  was 
all  so  striking,  tender,  and  earnest  that  he  was  greatly 
moved.  After  an  attendance  of  a  few  evenings  he  was 
a  new  man  in  Christ  Jesus.  In  due  time  he,  with  his 
wife,  daughter,  two  brothers,  and  two  sisters,  joined  our 
church.    He  afterward  became  one  of  our  active  elders. 


84  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

How  marked  was  the  providence  of  God  in  that  street, 
that  meeting,  that  opened  door,  that  music  !  To  God 
be  all  the  glory !  A  family  of  lukewarm  Christians 
were  melted  in  sorrow  and  contrition  by  the  danger- 
ous illness  of  a  dear  child.  The  result  was  a  house- 
hold revival.  Three  young  persons  were  seized  with 
illness  in  a  ball-room ;  one  of  the  young  men  died  amid 
the  horrors  of  despair.  This  resulted  in  a  revival  for 
years.  How  many,  like  Luther,  have  been  awakened 
and  led  to  Christ  by  the  sudden  death  of  a  friend! 

Years  ago  an  elder  said  to  me :  "  Be  careful  how  you 
treat  an  important  man  in  our  congregation.  He  was 
recently  offended  because  I  spoke  to  him  about  his 
soul."  As  I  was  their  new  pastor,  this  man  and  his 
wife,  in  the  good  providence  of  God,  were  at  one  of  our 
vestry  prayer-meetings.  At  tlie  close  I  suggested  that 
the  church  remain  for  prayer,  while  I  would  be  most 
happy  to  converse  with  any  individuals  in  the  adjoining 
room.  In  passing  down  the  aisle  I  stopped  and  quietly 
said  to  this  man  and  his  wife,  "  Will  you  not  accom- 
pany us  ? "  They  immediately  assented.  And  they 
were  among  the  very  first  to  unite  with  the  church ; 
and  in  time  they  and  their  six  adult  cliildren  were 
gathered  with  us  at  the  Lord's  table.  How  manifest 
was  the  providence  of  God  ! 

The  hard,  depressing  times  of  1857-58  were  followed 
by  the  most  powerful  and  extensive  revival  this  country 
has  ever  witnessed.    In  God's  providence,  men  saw  the 


THE  AWAKENING  OF  1857. 


85 


fallacy  of  all  earthly  dependencies  and  they  fled  to  him 
for  rest  and  support.  Sometimes  in  the  providence  of 
God  everything  seems  to  favor  a  religious  interest. 
There  is  an  awakened  and  tender  spirit  among  the 
people.  The  whisperings  of  conscience  are  moving  the 
inmost  souls  of  men.  In  some  cases  it  is  witnessed 
with  pleasure  by  the  church.  But  after  a  shallow  ex- 
perience and  a  feeble  effort,  the  blessing  passes  away 
like  the  morning  cloud.  In  other  cases  it  is  welcomed, 
as  the  becalmed  sailor  welcomes  the  breeze.  Souls  are 
aroused.  Every  energy  is  exerted.  The  cry  of  the  pas- 
tor and  the  parent  is,  "  This  is  the  thing  for  which  we 
have  longed  and  prayed  and  wept,"  and  so  with  Sabbath- 
school  teachers  and  members  of  the  church.  They  bow 
in  penitence  before  the  Lord.  They  trust  his  promises. 
They  use  the  wise  and  efficient  means,  and  the  blessing 
comes.  While  therefore  we  are  never  to  wait  for  every 
favoring  circumstance,  we  are  to  watch  and  improve  to 
the  utmost  those  seasons  which  God  seems  especially  to 
countenance. 

Eevival  efforts  should  be  guided  by  the  providence 
of  God.  Preaching-services  and  inquiry-meetings  are 
sometimes  expedient.  Again,  evangelistic,  cottage,  or 
neighborhood  prayer-meetings  are  demanded.  Then 
faithful '  work  from  house  to  house  is  required.  So 
in  reference  to  persons  reached. 

When  thwarted  in  plans  for  the  community,  I  have 
turned  with  delightful  success  to  the  children  and  the 


86 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


youth.  So  by  watching  the  providences  of  God  and 
by  securing  the  consecration  of  my  own  heart  and 
life  I  have  always  been  able  to  reach  some  precious 
souls. 

WE  MUST  SECURE  CHRISTIAN  CO-OPERATION. 

Let  the  pastor  and  the  church  think  and  feel  and 
move  together  for  the  honor  of  the  Master.  Diversity  of. 
gifts,  all  concentrated  on  one  supreme  aim,  is  of  itself  a 
stupendous  power.  Jesus  promises  a  blessing  to  such. 
Even  where  two  or  three  are  thus  together  he  is  with 
them.  With  tears  and  prayers  and  confession  Ezra 
proposed  to  the  people  a  hard,  self-denying  work. 
When  the  pastor  makes  such  a  proposition  to  his 
church  let  them  respond  as  the  people  did  to  Ezra : 
"  We  also  will  be  with  thee ;  be  of  good  courage  and  do 
it "  (Ezra  x.  4).  God  does  not  send  forth  such  toilers  to 
fail.  Paul  prayed  for  the  Philippians,  that  they  might 
strive  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel  (Phil.  i.  27). 
This  was  one  secret  of  the  amazing  power  and  extent 
of  the  revivals  of  1857-58.  Christians,  even  of  dif- 
ferent denominations,  came  together  to  pray  and  work 
for  souls.  They  went  from  their  knees  to  plead  with 
sinners. 

To  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  church  will  some- 
times require  much  wisdom.  If  we  have  the  tender 
spirit,  if  we  plead  with  Jesus,  if  we  win  men  to 
ourselves,  if  we  yield  trivial  matters,  and  treat  those 


THE  SPECIAL  INTERFERENCE  OF  GOD.  87 

who  differ  from  us  with  special  deference,  they  will 
usually  aid  us  in  adopting  and  carrying  forward  the 
most  efi&cient  measures. 

THE  SPECIAL  INTERFERENCE  OF  GOD. 

At  one  time  just  before  the  general  establishment  of 
the  week  of  prayer,  I  felt  that  great  good  might  accom- 
pany nightly  prayer-meetings.  But  I  must  have  the 
co-operation  of  the  session.  They  consented  to  try 
these  meetings,  but  they  were  opposed  to  their  con- 
tinuance, without  some  special  indications  of  good.  At 
these  meetings  we  dwelt  upon  our  sin  and  need.  But 
there  was  nothing  unusual.  One  night  I  was  almost 
crushed  with  the  fear  of  their  discontinuance.  On 
passing  out  with  a  tearful  eye  and  heavy  heart,  I  said 
to  an  aged  elder :  "  Who  is  it  ?  Is  it  I  ? "  He  saw 
my  meaning.  That  was  to  me  a  night  of  anguish.  I 
feared  the  loss  of  souls  and  the  dishonor  of  Christ. 
And  so  in  the  night-watches  I  cried  to  God  for  help. 

On  the  coming  evening  we  had  a  tender,  tearful  meet- 
ing. There  were  confessions  of  sin  and  pleadings  for 
help.  The  session  were  stopped  for  business.  The 
elder  to  whom  I  had  spoken  said  :  "  Brethren !  these 
meetings  are  solemn  and  well  attended.  I  move  you, 
Moderator,  that  they  be  continued  the  coming  week 
and,  if  the  Moderator  approve,  that  we  have  the 
preached  word."  This  speedy  answer  to  prayer  seemed 
to  me  miraculous.     For  this  was  the  first  time  that 


88 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEXf 


my  session  had  ever  taken  the  lead  in  such  a  propo- 
sition. 

On  our  way  home  that  elder  said  to  me :  "After  your 
word  last  evening,  I  went  to  a  wakeful,  prayerful  night. 
I  saw  the  desirableness  of  future  meetings.  This  morn- 
ing I  called  and  expressed  my  feelings  to  another  elder. 
Anxiety  and  prayer  had  disturbed  his  sleep.  We  agreed 
that,  during  the  day,  w^e  would  see  the  entire  session. 
Thus  came  the  precious  meeting  and  the  united  action 
of  this  evening."  From  that  time  the  work  of  grace 
advanced  for  months.  The  pastor  and  the  church  were 
one  in  prayer  and  Christian  work.  And  many,  many 
souls  sought  and  found  the  Prince  of  j^eace. 

The  pastor  may  often  increase  the  force  of  Christian 
co-operation  by  proposing  to  his  church  definite  modes 
of  action.  After  an  earnest  sermon  on  Christian  work 
I  have  been  surprised  to  find  my  people  saying,  "  What 
would  you  have  me  do  ?  "  Says  Nehemiah  :  "  I  ap- 
pointed every  man  in  his  business."  So  it  is  in  large 
business  establishments.  So  it  may  be  in  our  Lord's 
business. 

After  thought,  consultation,  and  prayer,  let  the  pastor 
see  his  church  together,  and  earnestly  lay  some  matters 
before  them.  It  may  be  the  appointment  of  a  committee 
for  the  doors  of  the  sanctuary,  or  the  establishment  of 
a  Bible  class  or  neighborhood  prayer-meeting,  or  a  Sab- 
bath-school, household,  or  parish  revival,  or  a  districting 
of  the  region  around  the  sanctuary,  with  the  appoint- 


PERSONAL  CONVERSATION  ESSENTIAL.  89 

ment  of  callers  who  are  to  converse  and  pray  with  the 
families,  — leaving  with  them,  it  may  be,  a  card  or  a  tract, 
or  an  invitation  to  ordinary  or  extra  meetings ;  it  may 
be  the  visitation  of  the  church  or  the  earnest  labor  with 
personal  friends.  Whatever  the  object  may  be,  let  the 
pastor  and  the  church  seek  the  blessing  of  God  and  let 
them  move  on  together  in  perfect  harmony.  I  will  here 
suggest  a  few  thiugs  essential  to  the  largest  success. 

WE  MUST  ENGAGE  EARNESTLY    IN   PERSONAL  WORK  FOR 
THE  IMPENITENT. 

You  were  not  brought  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ 
simply  to  look  on.  If  men  are  perishing  in  a  burning 
house  you  strive  to  save  them.  You  are  not  to  wait  for 
a  revival.  Your  prayer  and  toil  may  bring  one.  The 
possibilities  of  a  single  Christian  are  marvellous. 

PERSONAL  CONVERSATION  IS  ESSENTIAL. 

How  often  God  blesses  a  simple  word  or  deed.  ]N^a- 
aman  the  leper  was  about  to  perish  in  his  wrath,  be- 
cause he  would  not  wash  in  the  Jordan.  A  few  kind 
words  saved  him.  The  men  on  board  Paul's  ship- - 
wrecked  vessel  were  about  to  perish  because  tliey  would 
not  stay  on  board  the  ship.  Ten  earnest,  decided  words 
from  the  Apostle  saved  them.  What  crowds  of  people 
are  hurrying  on  to  eternity,  feebly  affected  by  the  bed- 
ridden truths  of  religion.  They  must  be  warned  and 
won  to  'Christ. 


90 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN1 


Sometimes  they  may  best  be  reached  at  their  homes. 
One  member  of  a  family  may  be  inquired  for.  This 
attention  may  be  valued.  This  person  may  at  once  be 
led  to  the  Saviour.  Paul  said  to  the  elders  of  Ephesus  : 
"  I  have  taught  you  from  house  to  house  "  (Acts  xx.  20). 
A  call  upon  persons  after  an  impressive  meeting  has 
often  resulted  in  conversion,  during  a  prayer  of  conse- 
cration. Eeligious  conversation  is  very  essential  in  a 
time  of  religious  interest.  When  that  boat,  crowded 
with  human  beings,  was  sinking  in  our  waters,  parents 
and  others  did  their  utmost  to  save  their  children  and 
friends.  This  business  was  not  left  to  the  officers.  A 
Christian  lawyer,  who  was  my  early  friend,  once  said,  in 
an  address:  "You  are  all  to  be  preachers — preachers  by 
conversation,  character,  and  every-day  life.  God  did  not 
ordain  a  priesthood  to  do  the  religious  work  of  the  world, 
and  another  order  to  do  its  secular  business."  How 
many  soldiers  of  the  cross  by  faithful  converse  have 
helped  to  save  their  friends  whom  1  could  not  reach 
alone. 

Let  the  officers  of  the  church  organize,  instruct,  and 
inspire  the  host  of  the  Lord  for  this  personal  work. 
Mere  goodish  talk  about  religion  may  belittle  the  im- 
portance of  the  subject.  There  must  be  a  prayerful, 
softened,  believing  spirit,  with  close,  earnest,  tearful 
words  to  a  soul  that  is  perishing.  Paul  ceased  not  to 
warn  every  one  night  and  day,  with  tears  (Acts  xx.  31). 
Seek  opportunities  and  rest  not  till  souls  are  rescued, 


HOW  GOD  BLESSED  THE  MOTHERS.  91 

for  a  soul  —  a  soul  is  worth  a  thousand  tears,  a  thousand 
fortunes,  a  thousand  worlds.  If  saved  it  is  angelic.  It 
is  bought  with  a  price,  and  that  price  is  the  blood  of  the 
Son  of  God. 

HOW  GOD  BLESSED  THE  MOTHERS. 

An  urgent  and  prayerful  invitation  to  a  religious 
meeting  has  saved  millions.  A  mother  of  wealth  and 
culture  begged  her  thoughtless  daughter  to  accompany 
her  to  a  series  of  meetings.  She  went  reluctantly  and 
was  saved.    I  never  shall  forget  that  mother's  joy. 

We  are  told  of  a  widowed  mother  who  had  tw^o  skep- 
tical sons.  "  For  six  years  they  had  resided  in  a  distant 
State.  They  now  promised  to  visit  her.  A  series  of 
meetings  had  been  proposed.  In  her  deep  anxiety  she 
made  it  a  matter  of  special  prayer  that  they  might  be 
with  her  to  attend  them.  The  young  men  came,  stayed 
some  days,  and  were  to  return  on  Friday  evening  at  ten 
o'clock.  That  very  night  the  first  sermon  w^as  to  be 
preached.  Instead  of  remaining  at  home,  that  mother 
prevailed  on  her  sons  to  attend  the  meeting  wdth  her. 
At  that  meeting  they  were  powerfully  affected.  At  ten 
o'clock  they  hurried  away.  That  mother  seemed  doomed 
to  disappointment.  But  on  reaching  the  hotel  the  stage 
was  crowded,  and  they  remained  over  the  Sabbath. 
That  night  those  two  young  men,  among  others,  were 
pressing  their  way  forward  and  kneeling  at  the  altar, 
while,  in  a  distant  part  of  the  house,  that  aged  mother 


92 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WEEN? 


was  standing  and  lifting  her  heart  to  God  with  stream- 
ing tears.  The  next  day  they  both  threw  their  arms 
about  her  neck,  and  —  telling  her  of  praj'er  answered 
and  of  the  love  of  Jesus  in  their  hearts  —  they  parted. 
Then,  in  the  words  of  Mary,  she  exclaimed,  "  My  soul 
doth  magnify  the  Lord,  and  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced  in 
God  my  Saviour,  for  he  hath  regarded  the  low  estate  of 
his  handmaiden  "  (Luke  i.  46). 

THE  PRINCESS  ALICE. 

This  lovely  daughter  of  Queen  Victoria,  was  once  a 
great  admirer  of  the  infidel  writings  of  Strauss.  But 
long  before  her  death,  which  so  saddened  England 
and  the  Christian  world,  she  was  converted  to  Christ. 
When  asked  when  this  occurred,  she  said  :  "  Since  a 
poor  Christian  talked  to  me  of  the  gospel.  I  have  been 
able  to  say 'I  am  saved.'"  Each  Christian  must  seek 
out  and,  by  all  judicious  means,  win  persons  to  Christ. 
Suppose  that  each  of  you  brings  one  soul  to  Jesus. 
Single  individuals  may  set  in  motion  great  billows  of 
spiritual  blessing  that  heaven  alone  will  reveal.  An- 
drew searched  and  found  his  brother  Peter,  and  brought 
him  to  Jesus  (John  i.  41).  And  how  many  did  Simon 
Peter  bring  to  Christ  ? 

It  was  personal  seeking  and  finding.  Just  as  soon  as 
they  were  converted  they  sought  their  friends.  Every 
Christian,  3^oung  or  old,  should  be  asking,  "  Whom  can 
I  bring  to  the  Saviour  ?  "    In  these  instances  the  effort 


DR.  D'AUBIGNE'S  CONVERSION.  93 

was  slight.  But  in  most  cases  not  only  prevailing 
prayer,  but  efficient  and  continued  influence  is  indis- 
pensable. Even  the  sainted  Paul  exclaimed :  "  I  am 
made  all  things  to  all  men.  I  surrender  ease,  pleasure, 
and  profit,  that  I  might  by  all  means  save  some  "  (1  Cor. 
ix.  22). 

DR.  d'AUBIGNJ^'s  conversion. 

At  a  great  meeting  of  the  evangelical  ministers  of 
Europe  I  was  invited  to  the  house  of  Dr.  Merle 
D'Aubigne.  On  entering  the  old  family  mansion  on  the 
banks  of  the  lake,  all  embowered  in  elms,  evergreens, 
and  roses,  I  exclaimed,  "  Just  the  very  place  where  the 
History  of  the  Eeformation  should  be  written." 

One  evening  he  gave  me  a  most  thrilling  account  of 
his  conversion  to  God.  He  said  :  "  I  belonged  to  a 
class  of  students  in  this  city  whose  views  of  religion 
were  very  loose  and  erroneous.  Two  wealthy  and  cul- 
tured laymen  from  Scotland  came  to  Geneva.  They 
sought  to  win  us  to  Christ.  It  seemed  a  hopeless  task. 
But  they  sought  our  acquaintance.  They  conversed 
with  us  kindly  and  freely.  They  gained  our  confidence 
and  love.  They  instructed  us  from  God's  Word  and  led 
us  to  the  blessed  Saviour."  God's  Word,  religious  con- 
verse, and  prayer  were  the  means  blessed.  These  lay- 
brothers,  Eobert  and  James  A.  Haldane,  gave  them- 
selves and  vast  sums  of  money  to  the  Lord's  work. 
J ames  was,  in  different  places,  engaged  in  revival  work 


9-i  BEVIVALS:  HOW  AXB  WHENf 

for  fifty  years.  Who  can  estimate  the  results  of  those 
efibrts  ?  They  are  still  rolling  down  the  eternal  ages 
with  accumulating  force.  One  of  these  results  is  a 
theological  seminary  where  godly  young  men  are  pre- 
paring to  preach  the  true  gospel  in  Europe. 

You  may  not  do  what  Paul  and  Luther  and  the 
Haldanes  did.  You  are  busily  engaged.  All  around 
you  may  be  haste.  And  yet  even  you  can  do  won- 
ders. "\Miat  did  that  Christian  yoimg  woman  do  in 
an  iiTeligious  family  and  a  worldly  neighborhood  ? 
Through  Christian  influences,  which  she  started,  she 
has  lived  to  see  eleven  ministers  connected  with  that 
family  and  its  descendants ;  while  these  pastors  have 
received  into  their  churches  thousands  of  souls. 

What  did  Mr.  Kimball  of  Boston  do  when  he  led  to 
Jesus  that  ordinary  member  of  his  Bible- class,  D.  L. 
Moody  -?  And  what  did  that  Christian  man  do  when 
he  won  to  Christ  Mr.  McCall  of  Scotland,  who,  in  broken 
French,  is  telling  the  poor  in  Paris  of  Jesus  and  his 
love,  and  who  has  seen  established  in  that  city  and  its 
surroundings  fifty-six  preaching-stations  -?  And  wliat 
did  that  Christian  layman  in  this  city  do  who  met  a 
ragged  drinking  man  and  begged  him  to  become  a 
Christian  ?  Xot  content  with  mere  prayer  and  exhor- 
tation, he  took  off  his  own  overcoat  and  put  it  upon  the 
almost  naked  back  of  this  miserable  man.  He  then 
followed  him  up  until  he  became  an  earnest  disciple  of 
Jesus.     That  once  wretched  man  is  Jerry  McAuley, 


FAITHFUL  ADMONITION  REQUIRED.  95 

who,  with  his  godly  wife,  is  every  day  holding  most 
effective  evangelistic  prayer-meetings  in  a  good  build- 
ing provided  for  them  by  Christian  friends.  There  the' 
poor  are  being  aided  and  converted,  and  many  of  the 
worst  rum  dens  of  this  city  are  being  closed.  Talent 
and  force  are  not  confined  to  wealth  and  culture. 

With  God's  help  you  can  do  wonders.  In  a  few 
years  you  and  all  the  millions  on  the  face  of  the  earth 
will  be  fixed  for  eternity.  It  will  be  heaven  or  hell. 
What  are  you  doing  to  save  them  ?  Nothing  ?  Inac- 
tion here  is  treason.  How  can  God  say  to  you :  "  Well 
done  good  and  faithful  servant !  You  have  fought  a 
good  fight;  receive  your  crown." 

god's  peofessed  children  may  require  faithful 
admonition. 

This  is  an  essential  duty.  They  may  stand  directly 
in  the  way  of  God's  blessing.  The  wheels  are  blocked. 
Others  in  the  church  may  be  crushed  with  worldly 
affairs.  "The  care  of  this  world  and  the  deceitfulness 
of  riches  choke  the  word  and  they  become  unfruit- 
ful." Others  may  be  full  of  contention.  Here  is  a 
personal  work  for  members  of  the  church,  a  work 
demanding  wisdom,  tenderness,  and  love.  You  can 
move  and  help  each  other. 

You  may  say  :  "  I  am  myself  in  difficulty.  There  is  a 
coolness  between  me  and  a  very  obstinate  church-mem- 
ber.   I  can  do  nothing."    But  you  had  better  die  than 


96 


RE  VI VALS :  HOW  AND  WEEN  f 


stand  between  souls  and  heaven.  Jesus  says  to  you  in 
substance :  "  Do  you  remember  that  your  brother  has 
auglit  against  you  ?  First  be  reconciled  to  your  brother. 
Forgive  him  seventy  times  seven  ;  and  if  you  will  not 
forgive  him,  neither  will  your  heavenly  Father  forgive 
you "  (Matt.  vi.  15).  Do  you  say,  "  I  will  forgive  him 
when  he  asks  my  pardon"?  A  very  sensitive  man  in 
my  churcii  once  said  to  me  :  "I  never  loved  Brother  L. 
as  I  do  now.  In  a  warm  talk  last  night  he  blamed 
me.  Early  this  morning  he  called  and  said  to  me  : 
'  I  spoke  too  harshly  to  you  last  evening.  You  must 
forgive  it.'  "  Now  the  sensitive  man  was  the  one  most 
decidedly  to  blame.  But  Mr.  L.  would  not  rest  while 
his  brother  had  aught  against  him,  and  so  he  at  once 
sought  a  reconciliation.  And  oh,  how  easy  and  pleas- 
ant and  profitable  it  was  !  God  blessed  it.  Those  men 
are  now  in  glory.  Is  your  friend  most  to  blame  ?  Go 
to  him  with  a  penitent  spirit  and  let  the  setting  sun 
shine  upon  your  reconciliation. 

But  you  say :  "  1  belong  to  a  church  where  the  pastor 
and  the  people  seem  to  be  groping  in  spiritual  blind- 
ness. Everything  is  dull,  formal,  and  discouraging. 
What  can  I  do  ?"  You  can  do  just  what  was  done  by 
a  layman  in  circumstances  far  more  deplorable  than 
yours.  His  church  was  distracted  by  dissension.  The 
reign  of  the  Adversary  seemed  to  be  supreme.  The  heart 
of  this  man  was  greatly  oppressed.  He  cried  to  God 
for  pardon  and  help.    He  cast  his  burden  upon  the 


FAITHFUL  ADMONITION  REQUIRED,  97 

Lord.  He  then  went  and  poured  out  his  soul  into  the 
ear  and  heart  of  a  Christian  brother.  They  sighed  and 
cried  together  before  the  Lord.  Other  members  of  the 
church  were  reached.  They  conferred  together.  They 
gathered  for  prayer.  The  means  of  grace  were  used. 
Dissenting  parties  were  visited  and  brought  together. 
The  impenitent  were  seen  and  drawn  to  the  meetings. 
Thus  with  melting  hearts  they  prayed  and  toiled.  The 
good  work  deepened  and  spread.  Immense  numbers 
were  brought  into  the  church,  and  one  revival  has  fol- 
lowed another  until  that  church  is  to-day  especially 
noted  for  its  size,  harmony,  and  spiritual  power.  But 
for  that  one  man  this  church  might  to-day  be  a  spirit- 
ual desert. 

Can  you  not  do  what  he  did  ?  You  did  not  enlist 
under  the  banner  of  the  cross  to  hold  back  and  criti- 
cise and  hinder  the  advancing  army.  You  are  there 
to  press  forward  and  to  inspire  the  host  of  the  Lord 
with  longings  for  victory.  This  your  divine  Leader 
requires.  This  you  have  promised.  Are  you  now  ab- 
sorbed with  other  matters  ?  Think  of  your  own  con- 
dition. See  the  spiritual  desolations  of  the  family, 
the  church,  and  the  world.  See  the  dear  Saviour 
wounded  in  tlie  house  of  his  friends.  Listen  to  these 
stern  whispers  of  your  own  conscience :  "  Thou  art 
accountable.  Thou  art  blocking  the  narrow  way." 
Hear  the  words  of  God:  "Woe  to  them  that  are  at 
ease  in  Zion "  (Amos  vi.  1),  and  the  words  of  Christ, 


98 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


"Cast  ye  the  unprofitable  servant  into  outer  dark- 
ness "  (Matt.  XXV.  30). 

Let  your  heart  break.  Venture  your  all  on  Christ. 
Then  you  can  go  to  your  Christian  friend,  not  with  a 
hard  spirit,  blaming  individuals  and  fretting  about  a 
dead  church.  But  confess  to  him  your  own  unworthi- 
ness.  Then  plead  together  for  the  quickening  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Have  a  loving,  earnest  talk  with  your 
pastor.  Converse  with  other  Christians.  Eeach  the 
ungodly:  and,  as  you  pour  out  the  deep  longings  of 
your  souls,  you  will  find  the  Spirit  of  God"  within  you 
an  electric  power.  You  will  find  your  souls  nerved 
with  tenderness,  purpose,  and  decision.  Thus  the  fire 
is  kindled.  It  spreads.  It  reaches  the  household,  the 
prayer-room,  the  pulpit,  and  the  community.  You  are 
now  gathered  together  as  "  live  coals  from  off  the  altar 
of  God."    There  is  a  revival  of  religion. 

Will  you  enter  upon  this  course  ?  Never  say:  "What 
can  /  do  ?  "  or  "  Who  can  move  such  a  sluggish,  secular 
church  as  this  ?"  Your  dependence  is  upon  a  great  and 
gracious  God,  who  can  at  pleasure  remove  the  weightiest 
obstacles.  "Things  impossible  with  men  are  possible 
with  God  "  (Luke  xviii.  27).  God  waits  to  bring  the 
blessing  through  any  man,  woman,  or  child.  I  have 
known  more  than  one  young  disciple  whom  he  has,  in 
this  way,  made  the  instrument  of  a  religious  awakening, 
for  "he  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to 
confound  the  wise"  (1  Cor.  i.  27),  that  we  may  all 


FAITHFUL  ADMONITION  REQUIRED.  99 


understand  that  the  power  and  the  glory  belong  to 
him. 

Thus  "believing  ye  shall  rejoice  with  joy  unspeak- 
able and  full  of  glory"  (1  Peter  i.  8).  Thus  clad  in 
the  whole  armor  of  God,  and  throwing  yourself  into  the 
front  ranks  of  the  sacramental  host,  you  shall  turn 
many  to  righteousness,  and  shine  as  the  stars  forever 
and  ever "  (Dan.  xii.  3). 


III. 


HOW  TO  REACH  YOUNG  MEN. 

This  is  a  matter  of  supreme  importance.  Their  name 
is  legion.  Their  prospective  power  is  prodigious.  The 
smallness  of  their  numbei  in  some  of  our  churches  is 
most  appalling.  Their  souls  are  all  precious  jewels. 
They  must  be  saved.  When  won  to  Christ,  and  enlisted 
in  his  service,  it  is  infinite  gain.  It  is  not  merely 
the  rescue  of  worldlings,  "skeptics,  or  sots."  It  is  not 
merely  to  Satan  tlie  loss  of  followers.  Jesus  has  won 
disciples  who  may  enlist  in  his  service  millions  of  men. 
Who  can  prophesy  the  result  had  even  Frothingham, 
IngersoU,  and  Paine  been  as  zealous  for  Christ  as  they 
have  been  for  Satan  ? 

How  then  can  young  men  be  reached  ?  This  ques- 
tion has  been  asked  me  scores  of  times.  In  the  time  of 
Zechariah  one  angel  said  to  the  other,  "  Eun,  speak  to 
this  young  man"  (Zech.  ii.  4).  When  one  came  run- 
ning to  Jesus  and  asked  him  what  he  could  do  to  be 
saved,  Jesus,  beholding  him,  loved  him  (Mark  x.  21). 
So  we  are  to  love  their  souls,  and  long  for  their  rescue. 
It  will  not  do  to  keep  young  men  at  a  distance,  to  give 
them  mere  instruction  or  reproof    There  must  be  a 


EXPERIENCE  IN  A  VACANT  CHURCH.  101 

pleasant  acquaintance,  something  social,  friendly,  ardent. 
They  must  feel  that  you  are  in  loving  sympathy  with 
them. 

In  describing  the  way  to  reach  young  men,  I  shall 
venture,  at  the  repeated  charge  of  some  of  my  brethren, 
to  speak  of  my  own  experience.  In  Dr.  Lyman  Beech- 
er's  church  in  Boston  there  were  gathered  crowds  of 
young  men.  One  month  after  my  conversion  there  I 
entered  Yale  College.  Very  soon  Professor  Goodrich, 
Dr.  Taylor,  and  others,  were  holding  meetings  for  the 
conversion  of  students.  There  we  found  a  grand  op- 
portunity for  personal  labor  with  our  companions. 

FIRST  EXPERIENCE  IN  A  VACANT  CHURCH. 

Some  of  my  first  sermons  were  preached  for  pastors 
in  this  city.  While  here  I  one  day  accepted  an  invita- 
tion to  preach  for  a  single  Sabbath  in  a  N"ew  Jersey 
village.  Feeling  that  something  must  be  done  beside 
mere  preaching,  T  said  at  the  close  of  the  second  ser- 
vice :  "  I  am  glad  to  see  so  many  young  men  present.  I 
shall  be  most  happy  if  they  will  call  on  me  at  my  lodg- 
ings, at  live  o'clock  this  evening."  It  was  a  question 
whether  any  would  come ;  and  if  they  did  come  I  had 
not  the  slightest  idea  what  I  should  say  to  them. 

The  room  was  crowded  with  worldly  young  men. 
We  sang  twice.  I  briefly  read  and  prayed.  Then,  in 
the  most  familiar  way,  I  gave  them  a  welcome,  told 
them  what  a  precious,  manly  thing  God's  service  was, 


102 


RE  VI VALS :  HO  W  AND   WHEN  ? 


and  how  strangely  and  heartily  I  had  been  led  to  em- 
brace it.  I  expressed  my  profound  interest  in  their 
welfare,  and  begged  them  to  embrace  my  loving  Sa- 
viour. Expecting  never  to  see  them  again,  I  bade  them 
adieu. 

THE  YOUNG  GALLIC. 

As  they  retired,  a  bright  young  man  turned  and  said 
to  me:  "I  don't  believe  in  these  things.  I  don't  at- 
tend church.  I  have  not  heard  you  preach.  I  came  in 
here  to-night  to  see  what  was  up."  We  were  at  once 
seated,  and  engaged  in  religious  conversation.  After 
an  earnest  prayer  to  God  he  left  me.  I  was  so  affected 
by  this  meeting  that  I  consented  to  visit  them  again. 
The  next  Sabbath  I  had  something  for  this  young  skep- 
tic. All  the  day  he  listened  most  attentively.  That 
evening,  in  a  long  and  solemn  interview,  he  professed 
to  yield  his  heart  to  God.  This  settled  the  matter.  I 
gave  up  all  my  former  plans,  and  determined  for  the 
present  to  serve  them  as  stated  supply.  I  immediately 
became  a  resident  of  the  place.  This  young  man  be- 
longed to  a  prominent  family.  His  conversion  created 
a  sensation.    He  was  fearless,  earnest,  and  active. 

The  one  grand  aim  was  now  the  conversion  of  souls. 
Christians  were  aroused,  and  enlisted  in  the  work. 
Many  personal  efforts  were  made.  Prayer-meetings 
were  held  in  private  dwellings.  Lectures  were  delivered 
in  schoolhouses.     Personal  conversation  and  prayer 


THE  YOUNG  GALLIO. 


103 


followed  these  meetings.  One  entire  week  we  had  an 
evening  preaching-service,  followed  by  inquiry-meet- 
ings. Each  young  man  converted  was  expected  to  con- 
verse with  his  companions,  to  pray  for  them,  and  to 
bring  them  to  the  meetings.  A  godly  and  accomplished 
woman  was  secured  to  teach  a  class  of  young  ladies.  I 
often  opened  that  school  with  praj^er  and  remarks.  At 
the  end  of  fifteen  months,  among  the  one  hundred  hope- 
ful converts  were  all  the  young  ladies  of  this  school,  and 
almost  every  young  married  and  unmarried  man  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  that  village.  During  this  time 
a  new  church  had  been  built  and  dedicated.  The  ma- 
terial and  the  spiritual  aspect  of  church  affairs  was 
revolutionized. 

How  often  since  then  have  I  thanked  God  that  he 
put  it  into  my  heart,  and  gave  me  courage  to  invite 
those  young  men  to  my  lodgings,  on  my  first  Sabbath 
with  them.  My  experience  in  that  village  was  worth 
worlds  to  me.  It  was  a  good  place  to  begin.  I  was 
perfectly  free  to  act.  Dr.  E.  F.  Hatfield,  who  has 
admitted  to  the  church  such  crowds  of  people  in  this 
city,  has  described  to  me  his  first  year's  experience  as  a 
preacher.  It  was  in  a  New  Jersey  village,  and  was 
very  similar  iii  its  methods  and  its  results  to  my  own. 
Indeed,  I  believe  that  the  first  year  of  a  man's  ministry 
is  of  incalculable  importance.  Youth  and  ardor  will 
commend  him  to  the  young,  and  revival  success  will 
give  courage  to  his  heart  and  type  to  his  future  methods. 


104 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


FIRST  EXPERIENCE  AS  A  PASTOR. 

At  the  end  of  this  year  and  a  quarter  I  visited  my 
home  in  Boston,  and  accepted  a  call  to  a  church  in  the 
immediate  vicinity,  just  left  by  Dr.  William  Adams,  on 
his  removal  to  ISTew  York.  This  place  was  utterly  un- 
like the  one  I  had  left.  Some  Boston  families  spent 
their  summers  here.  An  intense  Unitarian  influence 
pervaded  the  town.  All  the  religious  affairs  of  the 
place  were  conducted  with  the  strictest  propriety. 
What  could  I  do  here  ?  How  could  I  reach  the  young 
men  ?  I  joined  a  town  temperance  society.  This  gave 
me  influence  with  some  men  outside  the  congregation. 
We  had  a  young  men's  home-missionary  society,  where 
papers  were  read,  remarks  were  made,  and  money  was 
raised.  I  did  my  best  upon  the  Sabbath  and  at  the 
Wednesday  evening  prayer-meeting,  and  sometimes  I 
lectured  at  private  houses  at  a  distance  from  the  church. 
But  there  were  no  conversions  to  Christ.  Something 
must  be  done.  At  this  point  I  invited  a  leading  young 
man  of  the  congregation  to  ride  into  the  country  with 
me,  for  the  purpose  of  calling  on  some  friends.  The  dis- 
tance was  considerable,  and  we  had  a  free  and  easy  talk 
about  the  church,  his  father's  family,  the  young  men, 
and  his  own  tastes  and  employments.  On  our  return, 
we  had  a  talk  about  his  own  condition,  and  about  the 
salvation  of  his  own  soul.  It  was  not  a  lecture,  but  he 
was  led  to  speak  to  me  with  perfect  freedom  on  these 
subjects.     He   was   decidedly  moved.    I   saw  him 


FIRST  EXPERIENCE  AS  A  PASTOR.  105 

almost  daily  until  he  was  rejoicing  in  hope.  He  was 
joined  by  two  or  three  other  religious  young  men. 

After  consultation  with  them,  and  with  the  officers  of 
the  church,  notice  was  given  of  a  course  of  Sabbath  even- 
ing discourses  on  practical  subjects  to  the  young  men. 
The  effort  of  Christians,  and  the  novelty  of  the  thing, 
brought  together  a  crowded  house.  As  the  seriousness 
increased,  T  did  not  propose  any  inquiry-meeting,  but  I 
invited  the  young  men  to  meet  me  during  some  evening 
in  the  week  at  one  of  their  homes.  The  first  half-hour 
was  spent  in  free  conversation  with  each  other.  Then 
we  were  seated,  and  we  discussed  some  difficult  points  in 
religion.  In  this  way  I  could  undermine  excuses  and 
bring  the  subject  home  to  them  with  point  and  fervor. 
The  meeting  was  closed  with  singing  and  prayer.  It 
was  easy  to  see  who  of  them  was  seriously  affected. 
Such  were  privately  invited  to  remain.  To  these,  mi- 
nute instruction  was  given  as  to  the  way  of  finding 
Christ.  Cogent  appeals  were  made  to  the  conscience  and 
the  heart.  They  were  made  to  feel  that  Jesus  was 
present,  waiting  to  receive  them.  While  kneeling,  I 
often  said  at  the  close  of  my  own  prayer,  "  Will  you  not 
in  a  spoken  word  yield  yourself  up  heart  and  soul  to 
Christ  ? "  Every  young  man  who  uttered  a  word  of 
prayer  became  a  Christian. 

As  fast  as  they  gave  evidence  of  piety,  they  were 
urged  to  influence  their  companions  and  friends.  In 
this  way  the  leading  young  men  of  the  place  became 


106  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

workers  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  These  unobtru- 
sive methods  excited  no  prejudice.  They  were  highly 
approved.  During  the  first  year  more  than  fifty  souls 
united  with  the  church.  Among  them  was  a  strong 
active  band  of  earnest  young  men.  Should  not  young 
preachers  make  more  decided  efforts,  in  and  out  of  the 
pulpit,  for  the  youth,  and  for  persons  who  are  near  to 
their  own  age  ?  The  conversion  of  young  men  makes  a 
most  favorable  impression  upon  the  community,  and 
Jesus  may  endow  them  with  marvellous  power. 

YOUNG  MEN  IN  CITIES. 

At  the  end  of  three  years  I  accepted  a  call  to  a 
church  in  Boston.  Since  then  my  life  as  pastor  has 
been  much  in  cities.  I  had  striven  to  adapt  myself  to 
the  condition  of  young  men  in  two  widely  different 
country  villages.  In  the  city  I  was  met  by  another 
aspect  of  things.  Here  are  crowds  of  young  men  from 
the  country.  Each  of  them  may  be  ambitious,  enter- 
prising, and  anxious  to  si^cceed.  But  all  the  refined 
arts  of  the  Adversary  are  in  full  play  for  his  destruction, 
and  now  comes  the  stupendous  question :  "  Who  is  to 
have  him  ?  The  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  Devil,  or 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  his  people  ? "  He  may  have 
his  evenings  and  his  Sabbaths.  But  where  shall  he  go  ? 
"  Go  ?"  you  say ;  "  go  to  his  room,  and  read  and  improve 
himself."  But  he  may  have  cheap  lodgings.  He  may  be 
located  in  a  cold  room  with  several  others ;  and  then  he 


YOUNG  MEN  IN  CITIES. 


107 


is  weary  of  the  saw,  the  trowel,  the  scales,  the  yard 
stick  or  the  ledger,  and  he  greatly  misses  the  social  life, 
the  female  society,  of  home. 

Would  you  send  these, young  men  to  the  Christian  As- 
sociation ?  This  is  capital.  Thank  God  for  this  grand 
and  attractive  refuge.  In  our  New  York  Association 
they  take  young  men  by  the  hand,  and  care  for  them. 
They  have  there  great  opportunities  for  mental  improve- 
ment. They  have  their  Bible-classes,  prayer-meetings, 
and  personal  conversation  with  those  who  would  lead  a 
new  life.  There  men  are  won  to  Christ  and  enlisted  in 
Christian  work.  And  yet  every  disciple  of  Jesus 
needs  a  church  and  a  pastor.  In  many  places  there  are 
no  Christian  associations.  And  then  what  crowds  of 
men  in  our  cities  have  no  introduction  to  the  Associa- 
tion. They  are  curious  to  "  do  the  city,"  and  there  are 
scores  around  who  are  anxious  to  help  them.  Their 
nightly  inquiry  is,  "  Where  shall  we  be  anmsed  ? "  and 
there  is  the  saloon,  the  theatre,  the  dance-house,  and 
the  house  of  death.  And  oh !  what  throngs  of  them 
are  pressing  their  way  down  the  broad  road.  They 
must  be  rescued — rescued  through  the  instrumentality 
of  Christians. 

They  must  have  a  Sabbath  home  in  some  chapel  or 
sanctuary  where  the  true  gospel  is  preached.  Whether 
they  have  been  accustomed  to  Sabbath  services  or  not, 
they  may  wander  from  church  to  church  unnoticed,  till 
finally  they  give  themselves  up  to  Sabbath  lounging, 
recreation,  or  business. 


108  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WEEN? 

Ministers,  Christians,  employers,  and  godly  young 
men  must  seek  them  out.  They  must  know  them. 
They  must  give  them  welcome.  Young  men  must  be 
appointed  ushers  to  each  door  of  the  church.  These 
new-comers  must  be  invited  to  seats  with  other  young 
men.  Their  name  and  residence  must  be  learned  and 
registered,  and  reported  to  the  pastor.  They  must  be 
introduced  into  the  Sabbath-school,  the  Bible-class,  or 
the  social  gathering.  They  must  be  treated  with  such 
genuine  cordiality  that  they  will  at  once  feel  at  home. 

The  preacher  must  be  in  deadly  earnest.  The  preach- 
ing must  be  appropriate  and  pointed.  The  prayer-meet- 
ings must  be  free,  social,  and  enthusiastic.  The  singing 
must  be  spirited.  There  must  be  cogent,  loving,  per- 
sonal appeals  made  to  these  men,  together  with  believing 
prayer  to  God.  In  this  way  crowds  of  them  may  be  res- 
cued, and  even  made  ministers  of  salvation  to  others. 

RELIGIOUS   YOUNG   MEN   MUST   INFLUENCE  THEIR 
COMPANIONS. 

This  is  decidedly  the  plan  for  reaching  them.  I 
would  spend  any  amount  of  time,  prayer,  and  wisdom  in 
drilling  godly  young  men  for  this  work.  This  is  in  ac- 
cord with  worldly  wisdom.  Young  men  are  trained  for 
the  army,  for  the  professions,  and  for  business.  So  they 
should  be  for  Christ's  work.  Their  influence  over  each 
other  is  most  amazing.  With  them  as  coworkers  the 
pastor  may  effect  wonders.    A  young  man  may  lead  his 


INFLUENCE  OF  RELIGIOUS  YOUNG  MEN.  109 


companions  to  places  of  religious  interest.  He  may 
impress  them  by  his  own  experience  and  example. 

SEVEN  YOUNG  MEN. 

Seven  intelligent,  worldly  young  men,  who  were  out- 
siders and  utter  strangers  to  me,  studied  together  in  a 
select  school.  The  youngest  of  them  was  led  to  attend 
our  church.  He  soon  became  a  Christian.  One  by  one 
I  learned  from  him  the  name  and  residence  of  the  re- 
maining six.  He  introduced  me  to  them,  and  did  his  best 
for  them.  With  him  I  visited  them  at  their  homes.  As 
one  and  another  of  them  came  to  our  meetings,  and  was 
converted  to  Christ,  he  joined  us  in  working  for  the  re- 
mainder. One  Sabbath  morning,  coming  down  from 
the  pulpit,  I  approached  a  circle  of  young  men,  when 
one  of  them  exclaimed,  "Here  we  are,  our  old  class  of 
seven,  all  united  to  Christ !  "  They  were  a  joyous,  in- 
telligent circle,  and  they  became  a  power  in  the  church 
of  God.  Two  of  them  have  become  successful  superin- 
tendents of  flourishing  Sabbath-schools.  They  have  led 
many  souls  to  Jesus.  What  could  I  have  done  for  that 
class  alone  I 

We  often  hear  the  remark  that  young  men  are  val- 
uable for  what  they  may  become ;  but  they  are  vastly 
valuable  for  what  they  may  now  do.  No  one  seems 
fully  to  understand  their  present  possibilities.  Says 
Paul,  "  I  have  written  unto  you,  young  men,  because  ye 
are  strong."    Their  present  and  full  strength  must  be 


110 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


tested  and  utilized.  This  will  prepare  them  for  future 
work.  Multitudes  would  have  young  men  converted ; 
kept  from  evil  practices,  watched  to  see  how  they  wear, 
welcomed  to  the  church,  and  finally  encouraged  to  make 
some  public  efforts  for  Christ  and  his  cause.  Hence 
these  crowds  of  inactive  church- members.  A  prominent 
Christian  man  just  said  to  me  :  "  There  are  thousands  of 
godly  men  in  this  city  who  never  utter  a  word  in  our 
prayer-meetings,  because  they  did  not  commence  when 
they  were  filled  with  grateful  emotions  and  new-born 
zeal." 

WORLDLY  YOU^Cr  MEN  ATTEACTED. 

In  order  to  secure  a  yearly  ingathering  of  young 
men,  it  is  indispensable  that  they  should  every  year  be 
drawn  to  us  from  the  outside  world.  But  many  ne- 
glecters  of  the  sanctuary  would  not  attend  revival  meet- 
ings ;  hence  there  must  be  something  to  attract  them ; 
some  preparatory  steps  must  be  taken. 

After  the  summer  vacation  we  commenced  our  year 
of  evangelistic  work.  The  question  was,  "  How  can  we 
insure  the  largest  number  of  victories  for  the  Master  ? " 
The  pastor  and  the  choir  did  not  propose  to  do  this 
work  alone.  The  work  was  not  left  to  the  Sabbath- 
school  or  Bible-class.  The  people  were  not  merely 
urged  from  the  pulpit  in  a  general  way  to  do  more  for 
Christ.  All  the  soldiers  of  the  cross  were  to  aid 
their  chosen  leader  in  wise  and  specific  action.  Hence 
they  must  be  instructed,  interested,  consulted. 


WORLDLY  YOUNG  MEN  ATTRACTED.  Ill 


After  surveying  the  field,  and  talking  with  the  officers 
of  the  church,  I  was  in  the  habit  of  inviting  all  the 
Christian  young  men  of  the  congregation  to  meet  me. 
After  prayer  and  song  I  would  perhaps  say  :  "  What 
can  we  do  this  coming  campaign  for  young  men  and 
others  who  are  irreligious  ?  How  can  we  win  them 
to  ourselves  and  to  Christ  ? "  Perhaps  one  would  pro- 
pose several  reunions.  This  would  be  discussed  and 
voted.  Committees  on  music  and  flowers  and  invita- 
tion, with  chairman  and  secretary  and  treasurer,  would 
be  appointed.  Another  would  perhaps  propose  that  the 
pastor  be  requested  to  deliver  a  short  course  of  Sab- 
bath-evening lectures  to  young  men,  on  practical  sub- 
jects. This  also  was  decided  by  vote.  The  pastor 
could  suggest  or  object.  In  this  way  he  obtained  just 
what  he  wanted;  but  it  was  their  work.  They  made 
the  arrangements  and  bore  the  expenses.  It  was  young 
men's  missionary  work,  in  which  the  pastor  and  the 
church  and  the  congregation  and  outsiders  were  all 
finally  enlisted. 

After  a  time  notice  came  to  the  pulpit,  saying,  "  This 
church  and  congregation  are  invited  by  the  young  men 
to  a  reunion  to  be  held  in  the  Lecture  and  Sabbath- 
school  rooms."  Everybody  was  desired  to  bring  in  out- 
siders, and  the  poor  of  the  congregation.  The  pastor 
with  his  companion  and  others  were  early  present  to  re- 
ceive an  introduction  to  strangers,  and  to  give  welcome 
to  all.    Among  others,  there  would  be  knots  of  young 


112 


REVIVALS :  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


men  to  know  and  to  entertain.  The  pastor  and  others 
gave  introduction  and  special  attention  to  the  friendless 
and  the  unknown.  He  put  into  his  parish-book  the 
name  and  residence  of  strangers,  with  the  promise  of  a 
future  call.    It  was  really  missionary  work. 

On  this  occasion  the  chairman  of  the  young  men's 
committee  presided.  He  finally  called  upon  the  free 
and  happy  assembly  to  listen  to  some  special  music. 
The  pastor  and  one  or  two  others  would  be  called  out  to 
say  a  word  of  love  and  cheer.  The  assembly  would 
join  in  a  familiar  song.  Then  came  a  word  of  prayer  and 
the  benediction.  In  reviewing  this  scene,  how  many 
have  said  to  me  :  "  What  a  delightful  time  we  have  had. 
How  pleasant  and  home-like  it  all  seemed.  This  is  the 
church  I  want  to  attend."  Two  or  three  of  these  re- 
unions were  held  during  the  autumn.  In  a  small  con- 
gregation such  reunions  might,  perhaps,  be  held  at  a 
private  house. 

In  the  mean  time  appropriate  subjects  for  five  or  six 
Sabbath-evening  discourses  were  selected  by  the  pastor. 
The  young  men  printed  the  subjects  and  the  time  of 
their  delivery.  These  cards  were  distributed  in  the  pews, 
and  in  the  Sabbath-schools.  Every  one  was  expected 
to  do  his  best  to  circulate  them  among  the  young  men 
and  the  strangers  in  the  community.  In  this  way  a 
crowd  was  always  collected.  Sometimes  a  distinguished 
clergyman  would  open  the  course,  and  once  a  whole 
course  of  lectures  was  delivered  by  different  pastors  in 


WORLDLY  YOUNG  MEN  ATTRACTED.  113 


the  city.  The  subjects  discussed  were  eminently  prac- 
tical A  neglecter  of  the  sanctuary,  who  kept  his  store 
open  upon  the  Sabbath,  said  to  me  one  Sabbath  evening  : 
"  I  am  so  sorry  these  lectures  have  closed.  I  would 
love  to  attend  such  meetings  as  these  every  Sabbath 
evening  in  the  year."  His  large  family  were  brought 
into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

During  the  autumn,  boxes  of  missionary  clothing 
were  prepared.  Entertainments  were  sometimes  given 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  salary  of  city  mission- 
aries. Many  calls  were  made.  By  all  these,  and  other 
means,  there  was  much  social  and  familiar  intercourse 
among  parishioners  and  outsiders.  Many  strangers  had 
come  to  be  our  friends.  In  all  this  work  the  end  in  view 
was  the  salvation  of  souls.  During  this  time  sinners  were 
often  converted ;  but  this  was  a  preparation  of  the  field. 
It  was  the  ploughing  and  the  harrowing.  As  soon  as  the 
Week  of  Prayer  arrived,  all  this  general  work  was  aban- 
doned. As  a  wise  business  arrangement  this  was  an 
indispensable  measure.  No  absorbing  matter  must  ob- 
trude. The  time  had  now  come  for  that  thorough  pre- 
paration of  heart  to  which  I  have  already  referred.  The 
one  specific  and  uninterrupted  aim  was  now  to  be  the 
present  conversion  of  sinners.  Buonaparte  made  specific 
arrangements  for  a  conflict.  The  merchant  prepares  for 
the  busy  season.  With  equal  propriety  and  profit  we 
prepared  for  an  ingathering  of  souls. 


114 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


MIXD   WAS   AWAKENED.      A   GENERAL  INTEREST  WAS 
EXCITED. 

Worldly  young  men  and  strangers  became  our  friends, 
and  they  were  so  enlisted  in  this  movement  that  they 
could  not  be  -drawn  away  by  the  frivolities  of  the  city. 
They  attended  our  Evangelistic  prayer-meetings,  in 
which  Christian  young  men  took  part.  This  wise  timing 
of  things  never  insured  a  revival,  but  it  always  proved,  an 
invaluable  aid.    It  vastly  increased  the  number  saved. 

WORLDLY  YOUNG  MEN  CONVERTED. 

One  occasion  I  remember  with  special  interest.  The 
Week  of  Prayer  had  come.  The  miscellaneous  matters 
of  the  church  had  received  attention.  The  church  were 
in  a  prayerful,  quickened  state.  Everything  seemed  pro- 
pitious for  a  work  of  grace,  and  yet  during  that  week 
there  had  been  scarcely  a  conversion.  The  Sabbath 
came.  It  was  a  solemn  day ;  but  the  grave  difficulty 
still  was,  how  to  secure  the  real  and  avowed  penitence 
of  sinners. 

I  had  been,  during  the  week,  deeply  anxious  for  two 
young  men.  I  had  pressed  the  subject  upon  them 
separately.  They  were  much  moved.  On  that  Sab- 
bath evening,  at  the  close  of  the  young  people's  prayer- 
meeting,  they  were  urged  to  a  present  decision,  and  in 
prayer  they  both  professed  to  submit  to  Christ.  As 
they  were  going  to  the  public  service  in  the  church,  it 


WORLDLY  YOUNG  MEN  CONVERTED.  115 

was  suggested  to  them  that  they  might  speak  a  word 
for  Jesus  in  the  prayer-meeting  that  would  immediately 
follow  the  last  singing.  At  the  prayer-meeting  every 
person  in  that  crowded  church  remained.  During  the 
brief  meeting  it  was  said,  "  Perhaps  there  is  one  here 
to-night  with  a  new-born  hope,  who  will  speak  a  word 
for  his  Saviour."  One  of  those  young  men  instantly 
arose,  and  in  a  clear,  tender,  tearful  voice,  said :  "  I  could 
not  speak  for  myself,  but  I  will  say  a  word  for  J esus. 
I  think,  my  friends,  I  have  found  him  precious  to-night, 
and  oh !  if  you  only  knew  how  precious  he  is,  you 
would  seek  and  find  him  too."  That  young  man  was 
the  son  of  a  pastor  who  had  just  removed  from  a  neigh- 
boring church.  His  words  sent  a  thrill  of  emotion 
through  that  congregation  that  is  utterly  indescribable. 
No  preacher  in  the  city  could  have  excited  a  profounder 
interest,  and  that  was  a  fair  type  of  the  revival  that 
followed. 

After  this  Week  of  Prayer,  in  which  the  church  had 
come  very  nigh  to  the  Saviour,  our  gatherings  were  in 
the  lecture- room,  which  held  several  hundred  people. 
We  had  preaching  on  Monday  night,  and  meetings  for 
prayer  and  conference  on  the  four  following  evenings  of 
each  week.  These  latter  services  we  called  "  Evangelis- 
tic prayer-meetings."  This  is  not  a  dictionary  word, 
and  has  no  reference  to  the  work  of  Evangelists.  It 
was  not  truth  preached,  but  truth  utilized.  The  su- 
preme endeavor  was  now  the  salvation  of  the  perishing 


116 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


by  the  use  of  all  legitimate  means.  The  spirit  of  the 
Lord  was  with  us  in  subduing  power. 

THE  YOUNG  SKEPTIC. 

In  passing  out  one  evening,  some  of  the  young  men 
said  to  me :  "  There  is  a  gifted  young  man  here  who 
is  making  infidel  objections,  and  repeating  the  cavils 
of  Thomas  Paine.  He  is  doing  more  harm  among 
the  boys  than  you  can  do  good.  Won't  you  speak 
with  him  ? "  "  No,"  I  said,  "  perhaps  he  is  courting 
notoriety."  A  few  days  after  this  I  awoke  one  morn- 
ing thinking  of  this  young  skeptic,  and  I  said,  "I 
must  see  him."  As  I  entered  his  department  in  the 
store  his  back  was  toward  me.  Though  a  stranger  to 
me,  I  put  my  hand  upon  his  shoulder  and,  with  a  pleas- 
ant "  Good-morning,"  I  said  to  him,  "  I  have  been  dream- 
ing about  you,  and  I  have  come  to  tell  you  that  we 
must  have  you  with  us  in  this  grand  work  of  God." 
As  he  was  from  New  England,  I  ventured  to  add:  "You 
know  that  your  dear  mother's  Bible  is  true,  and  that  her 
religion  will  stand  the  test  of  eternity.  You  will  be  at 
the  meeting  to-night  ?  "  "  No,"  he  said,  "  we  are  taking 
account  of  stock."  But  to  my  joy  he  was  there.  My 
heart  was  burdened,  and  I  tried  to  meet  his  case. 

On  going  out  he  met  me  in  the  aisle,  and  said,  "  I 
have  been  impressed  to-night.  Like  Felix  and  Agrippa, 
I  am  almost  persuaded  to  be  a  Christian."  "Yes,'^  I 
said,  "  but  this  almost  did  not  save  Felix  and  Agrippa." 


THE  YOUNG  SKEPTIC. 


117 


After  urging  upon  him  a  present  and  entire  decision,  I 
turned  to  a  dozen  Christian  young  men  who  were  in 
waiting.  After  stating  the  case  I  said  to  them,  "  Let  as 
kneel  with  this  young  friend,  and  pray  that  he  may  now 
commit  his  all  to  God."  After  two  or  three  brief, 
earnest,  pointed  prayers,  this  young  man  began.  He 
told  God  what  a  sinner  he  was.  He  pleaded  for  pardon 
through  Jesus  Christ.  He  gave  himself  soul  and  body 
to  the  Lord.  He  then  thanked  God  for  the  kind  friends 
that  surrounded  him.  Then  he  exclaimed,  "0  Lord, 
what  can  I  do  for  thee?"  This  was  like  Paul  himself. 
That  morning  he  was  a  skeptic.  After  reaching  his 
abode  he  went  with  a  worldly  companion  to  a  retired 
room,  where  they  talked  and  prayed  together.  In  a  few 
days  this  companion  was  also  rejoicing  in  hope. 

The  next  Sabbath  evening  our  church  was  filled.  In 
the  prayer-meeting,  after  the  sermon,  our  young  friend, 
at  my  previous  suggestion,  arose,  and  in  choice  language 
and  great  fervor  told  what  God  had  been  doing  for  his  soul. 
At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  as  numbers  were  gathered 
in  one  corner  of  the  church  for  prayer,  a  3^oung  man  of 
commanding  appearance  came  by  me  as  I  stood  in  front 
of  the  pulpit,  and  exclaimed  :  "  I  am  greatly  amazed.  I 
am  greatly  affected.  I  never  was  in  this  church  before. 
I  am  in  the  same  establishment  with  one  of  the  young 
men  who  has  spoken  here  to-night.  For  months  we  have 
stood  togetlier.  He  has  ridiculed  religion.  I  supposed 
him  a  boasting  infidel.    How  wonderful  is  this  change. 


118 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


There  must  be  something  in  religion.  I  feel  that  I 
must  become  a  Christian."  After  a  few  words  from 
me,  he  passed  on  and  knelt  with  those  who  were  anx- 
ious for  their  souls.    He  was  soon  rejoicing  in  hope. 

Some  ten  young  men  from  that  one  leading  establish- 
ment were  led  to  Christ  in  our  meetings.  One  potent 
means  of  their  being  there  was  the  influence  they 
exerted  one  upon  another.  In  fact,  they  interested  and 
attracted  to  these  meetings  all  classes  of  the  community. 

While  another  young  man  was  in  a  state  of  spiritual 
anxiety  he  said  to  me :  "  I  shall  not  be  at  the  meeting 
on  a  particular  evening.  I  have  engaged  to  attend 
a  party."  After  showing  him  the  danger  of  being 
diverted,  in  his  peculiar  state  of  mind,  he  came  to 
the  meeting  and  gave  his  heart  to  Jesus.  At  my  sug- 
gestion he  had  sent  the  ladies  a  note  of  regret,  giving 
tiie  candid  reasons  for  his  absence.  The  evening  after 
the  party  those  young  ladies  were,  for  the  first  time,  at 
our  service.  In  a  few  months  four  adult  members  of 
that  family  of  strangers  confessed  Christ  in  our  church, 
while  one  of  them  afterward  became  the  wife  of  this 
young  man. 

A  charming,  saintly,  tearful  mother  at  one  time 
•  poured  out  her  anxious  soul  to  me  in  reference  to 
the  conversion  of  a  son,  a  sterling  young  man  who 
seemed  indifferent  to  the  concerns  of  his  soul.  That 
dear  mother  soon  died.  The  son  married  a  young 
woman  who  was  not  a  professed  Christian.    They  set- 


THE  ACCOUNT  OF  A  DAILY  PAPER.  119 

tied  in  Brooklyn.  How  could  he  be  reached  ?  I  called 
one  evening  at  the  house  of  his  brother,  who  was  an 
elder  in  our  church,  and  expressed  my  deep  anxiety 
that  this  brother  should  come  over  to  our  meetings. 
To  my  surprise  he  said :  "  I  have  this  day  urged  him 
to  do  so."  The  wife  immediately  added  :  "  I  have  to- 
day made  to  him  the  same  request  in  a  note."  That 
evening  he  came.  He  was  interested.  He  came  again 
and  again.  One  evening  he  arose  and  asked  our  pray- 
ers. The  congregation  was  thrilled.  As  he  that  night 
yielded  his  heart  to  Jesus  it  seemed  as  if  that  dear 
mother  must  be  bending  over  us  and  dropping  her  tears 
of  joy  upon  the  head  of  her  beloved  son.  The  wife 
soon  accompanied  her  husband.  She  also  found  the 
Saviour,  and  together  they  confessed  him  before  men. 
Said  Jesus,  "  If  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth  as 
touching  anything  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  he  done 
for  them  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven"  (Matt, 
xviii.  19). 

THE  ACCOUNT  OF  A  DAILY  PAPER. 

Strangers  have  given  their  views  of  the  character  of 
these  methods.  An  editor  of  one  of  our  secular  dailies 
made  this  report  in  his  paper  :  "  Having  heard  of  a 
special  religious  interest  in  the  Allen  Street  Presby- 
terian Church,  we  attended  a  Sabbath-evening  service. 
After  a  short  and  appropriate  discourse  the  pastor  came 
down,  during  the  last  singing,  and  proposed  a  brief 


120 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


prayer-meeting.  After  prayer  he  led  in  a  beautiful 
song,  in  which  the  whole  congregation  seemed  to  join. 
The  singing  was  very  effective.  Young  men  were  then 
requested  to  say  a  word  about  the  preciousness  of  that 
Saviour  whom  they  had  recently  found.  Fifteen  per- 
sons, mostly  young  men,  responded  with  a  freedom  and 
ease  and  heartiness  that  was  very  thrilling.  The  regu- 
lar and  after  service  did  not  detain  the  congregation  one 
hour  and  a  half.  As  they  retired,  some  fifty  persons 
gathered  with  the  pastor  in  one  part  of  the  house  for 
prayer  and  special  direction  for  those  who  seemed  in 
doubt  and  anxiety."  The  editor  added :  "  During  the 
week  the  evening  services  are  of  a  very  social  character. 
The  pastor,  in  an  address  of  six  or  eight  minutes,  intro- 
duces a  subject,  and  then  follows  a  perfectly  free,  social, 
and  home-like  meeting,  in  which  the  young  men  take 
part.  The  prayer  and  song  and  remarks  are  very  brief, 
and  no  time  is  lost.  The  pastor  closes  the  meeting  with 
a  short  appeal  and  prayer  of  consecration.  As  on  Sab- 
bath evening,  he  urges  any  who  are  anxious  to  re- 
main. Many  Christian  people  remain  and  converse 
with  their  friends. 

"Thus,  without  any  apparent  excitement,  this  good 
work  has  progressed  until  more  than  two  hundred  and 
twenty  persons  are  enjoying  the  happiness  of  a  new- 
born hope.  During  the  year  more  than  two  hundred 
have  been  received  into  the  church.  A  very  remark- 
able proportion  of  these  are  young  men.    They  speak 


A  REMARKABLE  COMMUNION  SERVICE.  121 

in  the  most  earnest  manner  of  the  different  ways  of 
sin  and  death  from  which  they  have  been  rescued. 
Some  refer  to  hard  drinking,  to  the  theatre,  or  to  skep- 
ticism. It  is  a  scene  of  wonderful  enjoyment.  They 
are  all  working  together,  striving  to  enlist  their  friends 
in  the  service  of  the  Lord.  And  every  man  who  finds 
the  Saviour  is  expected  to  say  a  w^ord  for  the  honor  of 
his  Master  and  to  join  iu  this  work.  In  this  w^ay  the 
church  has  within  itself  the  human  instrumentality  of 
reclaiming  the  fallen.  In  this  way  it  seems  to  us  that 
one  people,  at  least,  are  carrying  out  the  true  idea  of  a 
Christian  church." 

A  REMARKABLE  COMMUNION  SERVICE. 

One  of  the  editors  of  the  "  New  York  Evangelist," 
being  present  at  a  communion  service  in  the  Allen 
Street  Church,  describes  the  great  throng  and  the  open- 
ing services.  Among  other  things  he  then  says :  "  The 
long  list  of  names,  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  in  num- 
ber, was  carefully  read  by  the  pastor.  This  number 
filled  up  all  the  space  on  either  side  of  the  church, 
and  also  the  middle  aisle,  quite  back  to  its  centre. 
A  goodly  sight  indeed !  One  third  of  this  number 
were  baptized.  After  their  admission  they  received  a 
hearty  welcome  from  their  pastor,  and  as  the  w^hole 
congregation  joined  with  him  in  singing — 

*  There  are  angels  hovering  Tound,' 


122  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

it  seemed  like  heaven  on  earth.  The  sexes  were  about 
equally  divided.  There  were  some  strong  men  there, 
who  had  never  been  given  to  over  sentimentality  in 
their  families,  who  were  converted  first  and  then  carried 
tlie  gospel  to  their  wives.  We  have  never  seen  a  better 
appearing  multitude  stand  up  in  any  church  to  avouch 
the  Lord.  The  conmiunicants  filled  the  pews.  Some 
were  in  the  aisles  and  some  in  the  galleries.  The  Eev. 
Dr.  Coe,  a  former  pastor,  led  in  prayer.  TJie  bread  was 
broken  by  the  pastor,  and  the  cup  was  administered  by 
his  son,  the  Eev.  W.  W.  Newell,  Jr.,  who  closed  the  ser- 
vice with  a  few  appropriate  words.  This  good  work 
still  goes  on.  The  interest  was  never  greater  than 
during  the  last  week.  One  noticeable  feature  of  this 
work  is  the  fact  that  more  than  one  half  of  the  con- 
verts had  no  former  connection  with  the  congregation. 
They  were  brought  to  the  meetings  by  their  friends  or 
by  the  pastor." 

A  EEPOET  OF  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  ON  THE  PECULIAR 
FEATURES  OF  THE  WORK. 

The  minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  for  that  year 
thus  refer  to  this  subject :  "  We  call  attention  to  a 
powerful  work  of  grace  in  our  Allen  Street  Church, 
New  York,  in  which  over  two  hundred  souls  have  been 
hopefully  converted  to  Christ.  We  speak  of  it  because 
of  its  wonderful  power,  its  rich  harvest  of  souls,  and 
its  peculiar  features.    Those  features  are  these:  1.  The 


THE  TESTIMONY  OF  CONVERTS. 


123 


male  members  of  the  congregation  were  the  first  to 
be  interested  in  practical  religion.  Many  husbands 
were  first  converted  and  then  urged  their  wives  to 
believe  upon  the  Lord.  2.  The  work  was  carried  on 
mainly  by  prayer-meetings.  There  was  preaching  but 
one  evening  in  the  week  aside  from  the  Sabbath. 
3.  The  relation  of  individual  experience  by  the  men 
proved,  under  God,  a  most  powerful  agency  in  deep- 
ening religious  impressions  and  thus  promoting  the 
revival." 

THE  TESTIMONY  OF  CONVERTS. 

Eevivals  of  religion  begin  in  the  hearts  of  God's 
people.  But  in  this  review  we  find  that  they  were 
openly  commenced  and  greatly  promoted  by  additional 
agencies.  One  man  or  more  rises  in  a  praying  assem- 
bly to  beg  the  prayers  of  God's  people,  or  to  announce 
a  new  hope  in  Jesus.  And  this  is  sometimes  done 
with  such  spiritual  emotion  that  the  whole  assembly  is 
electrified. 

Dr.  Asa  D.  Smith,  late  president  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, thus  wrote  in  the  winter  of  1875  :  "  Quite  un- 
expectedly a  worthy  member  of  our  junior  class  arose 
in  a  meeting  and  modestly,  yet  with  deep  emotion, 
expressed  his  sense  of  need  and  his  purpose  to  seek 
salvation  through  Christ.  A  profound  impression  was 
made.  A  work  of  great  power  followed.  In  the  stu- 
dents' prayer-meeting  they  would  arise  and  speak  of  a 


124  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WEEN? 

new-found  hope,  until  fifty  persons  had  commenced  a 
new  life.  The  church  was  quickened  and  consecrated 
anew  to  God  and  his  service." 

The  Kev.  Dr.  E.  W.  French  of  Bergen,  N.  J.,  once  said 
to  me :  "  I  found  an  important  young  man  in  my  con- 
gregation seriously  disposed.  I  said  to  him,  '  Are  you  a 
Christian  ? '  — '  No ! '  — '  Why  not  become  one  now  ?  Give 
me  one  good  reason  for  delay  and  I  will  not  say  an- 
other word.'  He  soon  answered,  '  I  am  ready  to  be- 
come a  Christian,  but  how  shall  I  do  it  ? '  I  answered, 
*  As  many  as  received  him,  to  them  gave  he  power  to 
become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe  on 
his  name '  (John  i.  12).  But  he  said :  '  How  am  I  to 
know  that  I  receive  him  ? '  Said  Peter  to  the  people, 
'  Tor  the  promise  is  unto  you,'  etc.  (Acts  ii.  39).  Then 
said  he,  '  I  will  do  it.'  As  we  kneeled  he  said,  '  I 
don't  know  how  to  pray,  but  I  do  receive  the  Lord 
Jesus.'  He  arose  from  his  knees  a  new  man.  I  then 
said,  'Will  you  give  a  word  of  testimony  for  the 
Master  ? '  Near  the  close  of  a  large  meeting  the  next 
evening  I  called  for  testimony.  Instantly  he  arose  and 
spoke  earnestly  of  his  new  experience.  The  effect  was 
prodigious.  No  sermon  that  I  ever  preached  began  to 
equal  it.  By  the  side  of  that  man  sat  a  carping  skeptic. 
Suddenly  his  countenance  was  blanched.  His  anguish 
was  apparent.  As  with  a  breath  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
had  swept  away  every  vestige  of  his  foundation.  Thus 
the  revival  began  and  continued.    We  followed  up  the 


THE  TESTIMONY  OF  CONVERTS.  125 

meetings.  And  we  had  testimony  from  him  and  from 
others.  *  Whosoever  therefore  shall  confess  me  before 
men,  him  will  I  confess  also  before  my  Father  which  is 
in  heaven '  "  (Matt.  x.  32). 

The  Lord  surely  honors  such  means.  How  often  and 
with  what  effect  did  the  Apostle  Paul  relate  his  own  ex- 
perience. How  many  were  converted  to  Christ  through 
the  influence  of  this  testimony.  And  he  did  not  wait 
until  he  was  an  established  saint.  Just  as  soon  as  Ana- 
nias told  him  what  to  do  he  did  it,  even  while  he  was  yet 
trembling  and  astonished.  Just  as  soon  as  the  Samari- 
tan woman  found  Jesus,  and  believed  on  him,  she  left  her 
vMter-'pot  and  went  and  told  the  joyful  news  to  the  citi- 
zens. And  many  believed  on  him  for  the  saying  of  the 
woman  (John  iv.  34).  This  settles  the  matter.  He  did 
not  tell  her  to  wait  for  evidence.  Though  a  woman,  he 
sanctioned  her  course.  And  how  much  personal  experi- 
ence do  we  find  in  the  Old  Testament.  How  much  we 
are  moved  by  the  relation  of  what  the  saints  felt  and  did. 

How  many  have  said  to  me :  "  I  was  unmoved  by  the 
most  affecting  providences  and  by  the  most  powerful  ser- 
mons. I  resisted  all  religious  influences.  But  when  I 
heard  skeptics  and  worldlings  humbly  and  tearfully  con- 
fessing their  sin  and  the  sweet  love  of  Jesus,  my  hard 
heart  was  broken."  Here  is  a  great  change  and  a  great 
good.  How  natural  to  speak  of  it  and  to  urge  upon  others 
its  possession.  How  constantly  are  people  telling  of 
some  great  physician  and  of  some  wonderful  cure.  So 


126  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

Psalmist  says:  "Come  and  hear,  .  .  .  and  I  will  declare 
what  God  hath  done  for  my  soul"  (Ps.  Ixvi.  16).  The 
man  from  whom  the  unclean  spirit  was  cast  out  besought 
Christ  that  he  might  be  with  him.  What  could  be  more 
pleasant  or  suitable  ?  But  Jesus  said  unto  him,  "  Go 
home  to  thy  friends  and  tell  them  how  great  things  the 
Lord  hath  done  for  thee  "  (Mark  v.  18).  How  marvel- 
lous must  have  been  the  effect  of  this  man's  story  upon 
his  family  and  friends.  Tlie  blind  men  healed  could 
not  be  restrained,  and  they  would  spread  the  fame  of 
Jesus.  Sometimes  the  change  is  so  marvellous  in 
young  converts,  and  they  are  so  full  of  love,  peace,  and 
joy  that  they  must  speak.  All  that  heard  Saul  of  Tar- 
sus were  amazed  and  said,  "Is  not  this  he  that  destroyed 
them  which  called  on  his  name  ?"  (Acts  ix.  21). 

The  force  of  such  testimony  for  Christ  is  in  full 
accord  with  philosophic  principles.  Didactic  truth 
may  convince  merely  the  intellect,  but  this  speaking 
is  out  of  the  fulness  of  the  heart.  Guided  by  God's 
Spirit  it  comes  home  to  the  soul  with  thrilling  effect. 
Crowds  of  persons  to  be  reached  are  young.  The  new- 
ness, strangeness,  and  vastness  of  the  change  in  a  con- 
verted young  man  enables  him  to  move  his  companions 
in  a  way  that  no  minister  or  ordinary  Christian  can  do. 
Even  the  vile  and  the  wretched  may  thus  become  a 
power  for  good. 

The  positive  and  united  testimony  of  several  wit- 
nesses in  a  court  of  justice  will  decide  the  jury.  God 


THE  TESTIMONY  OF  CONVERTS.  127 

requires  such  testimony.  "  Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith 
the  Lord "  (Isa.  xliii.  10).  Those  who  walked  with 
Christ  after  his  resurrection  were  "his  witnesses  unto 
the  people  "  (Acts  xiii.  31).  The  young  convert  does 
not  rise  in  an  assembly  as  a  teacher,  but  simply  as  a 
witness.  Even  a  child  may  tell  what  he  has  seen  and 
what  he  has  felt.  Thus  I  have  referred  to  some  of  the 
methods  by  which  young  men  may  be  reached. 


lY. 


HOW  CAN  YOUXG  MEN  BE  KEPT  ? 

UxLESS  converted  to  Christ  there  is  no  sure  way 
of  keeping  them  even  in  the  congregation.  They  are 
often  lured  away.  But  how  can  young  converts  be 
kept?  This  is  a  vastly  important  question.  How 
often  and  how  anxiously  is  it  asked  !  If  left  to  them- 
selves they  may  sink  down  into  one  of  those  seasons  of 
spiritual  apathy  which  so  cruelly  detract  from  the  bene- 
fit of  revivals  and  bring  upon  them  the  distrust  of  the 
community.  One  very  potent  and  essential  way  of 
keeping  young  converts  is  to  be  yourself  what  you 
wish  them  to  be.  There  must  be  with  you  no  sign 
of  dulness  or  neglect  of  duty. 

At  a  meeting  of  our  General  Assembly,  of  which  I 
was  a  member,  a  convention  of  elders  was  held  in  Dr. 
Cuyler's  lecture-room,  to  discuss  this  matter.  Elder 
Davis  of  Iowa  said  :  "  The  new  converts  in  a  certain 
revival  were  mostly  children  of  godless  parents,  and  for 
the  want  of  proper  training,  almost  the  entire  fruit 
of  the  revival  was  lost."  Judge  Williams  of  Penn- 
sylvania said :  Get  acquainted  with  the  names,  faces, 
needs,  and  surroundings  of  new  converts  ;  then  counsel 


BRING  YOUNG  MEN  INTO  THE  CHURCH,  129 


them.  Remember  their  social  wants.  Have  social 
gatherings  for  them  with  the  church.  Teach  them  to 
know  and  love  each  other.  Get  them  some  religious 
w^ork  to  do.  Encourage  them  with  a  cheerful,  earnest 
word  on  this  subject."  Elder  Lockwood  of  Colorado 
said :  Each  young  man  should  take  his  turn  as  leader 
of  a  prayer- meeting,  if  he  could  only  read  the  Scriptures 
and  the  hymns."  I  may  add  that  testimony  of  young 
men  for  Christ  in  prayer-meetings  is  not  merely  a  be- 
nign influence  upon  others.  It  is  a  wonderful  means  of 
grace  to  themselves.  It  quickens,  strengthens,  and  com- 
mits them  to  the  cause.  It  is  one  of  the  prodigious 
forces  by  which  they  are  kept.  This  practice  should  be 
continued.  Personal  effort  for  others  must  also  be 
urged  upon  them. 

YOUNG  MEN  SHOULD  BE  BROUGHT  INTO  THE  CHURCH. 

They  should  be  shown  that  this  is  the  only  true  place 
of  safety  and  usefulness,  and  that  the  command  of 
Christ,  "Do  this  in  remembrance  of  me,"  is  binding 
upon  them.  In  preparing  young  men  for  the  com- 
munion service  much  time  and  untiring  effort  was 
made,  by  the  pastor  and  elders  of  our  church,  to  dis- 
cover the  character  and  to  reform  the  habits  of  young 
men.  We  found  that  tiie  time  to  start  them  right  was 
when  the  conscience  was  tender  and  their  love  was 
warm.  Then  they  could  drop  all  that  was  wrong  in 
heart,  mind,  or  life.    Committees  were  appointed  to 


130  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

search  out  the  character  of  strangers.  The  pastor's  book 
contained  the  name,  address,  and  some  indication  of  the 
personal  experience  of  young  converts. 

Multitudes  of  young  men  in  the  city  are  more  or  less 
tempted  to  the  use  of  alcoholic  drinks.  By  this  means 
some  churches  are  sorely  afflicted.  We  had  a  book  for 
temperance  pledges.  We  never  said,  "  You  cannot  enter 
the  church  unless  you  sign  this  pledge."  But  the  sub- 
ject of  total  abstinence  was  always  discussed  and  forci- 
bly urged  in  our  examinations,  and  candidates  for  the 
church  always  decided  to  give  up  the  use  of  alcoholic 
drinks  as  a  beverage.  In  this  way  we  endeavored  to 
lead  them  into  their  new  life  as  the  Lord's  happy  free- 
men. For  the  want  of  such  patient  labor  at  this  criti- 
cal time,'  how  many  young  Christians  are  dragging 
along,  shackled  with  the  habits  of  a  sinful  life.  Our 
communion  service  was  a  solemn  feast  of  love  and  joy. 
At  its  close  the  church  were  requested  to  receive  these 
new  disciples  as  members  of  our  Christian  family,  and 
to  give  them,  as  they  passed  out,  the  hand  and  heart  of 
Christian  fellowship. 

During  the  late  spring  and  early  summer  our  special 
business  was  to  instruct,  indoctrinate,  and  guide  young 
Christians.  Paul  and  John  speak  of  converts  as  their 
children.  Children  must  be  taught,  encouraged  and 
directed.  They  must  be  enlisted  in  Sabbath-schools 
and  Bible-classes.  A  young  people's  meeting  was  lield 
in  the  Sabbath-school  room  every  Sabbath  evening, 


BRING  YOUNG  MEN  INTO  THE  CHURCH.  131 

three  quarters  of  an  hour  before  the  service.  Young 
men  took  their  tiirn  in  leading  this  meeting.  The  pas- 
tor often  entered  to  say  a  word  at  its  close,  and  often 
spent  a  few  moments  with  the  anxious. 

Young  converts  may  have  strange  notions.  They 
may  be  carried  about  by  every  wind  of  doctrine.  They 
must  be  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  truth.  Hence  the 
doctrines  of  the  Bible  were  stated,  proved,  and  made 
practical.  Dangers  were  depicted  and  duties  were 
urged.  Keligious  books,  and  such  tracts  as  the  "  Chris- 
tian Traveller "  and  "  To  those  commencing  a  religious 
life,"  were  circulated.  The  pastor  and  others  pressed 
upon  them  the  importance  of  Bible  study,  secret  prayer, 
victory  over  besetting  sins,  daily  repentance  and  faith 
in  Jesus,  Christian  fidelity  in  business,  constant,  self- 
denying,  and  prayerful  labor  for  souls,  and  a  punctual 
attendance  upon  tlie  meetings  of  the  church. 

We  had  in  view  their  future  as  well  as  their  present. 
In  fine,  we  led  them  to  commence  the  habits  which  we 
wished  them  to  establish,  and  to  begin  the  Christian 
work  which  we  wished  them  to  follow.  Their  history 
has  fully  confirmed  the  wisdom  of  this  course. 

We  found  it  very  profitable  to  request  older  members 
to  take  charge,  in  a  quiet  way,  of  certain  young  Chris- 
tians. As  personal  friends  they  were  to  instruct,  aid, 
and  encourage  them  in  the  performance  of  their  duties. 
They  were  to  advise  them  tenderly  and  warmly.  If 
necessary  they  were  to  aid  them  in  securing  business 


132 


REVIVALS:  BOW  AND  WHENt 


situations.  Such  situations  were  easily  found,  as  these 
were  the  kind  of  young  men  wanted  by  bankers,  brokers, 
merchants,  and  mechanics.  Their  career  in  this  world's 
business  has  been  a  marvel  of  success.  For  many  years 
we  followed  these  simple  methods  with  no  serious  detri- 
ment to  health,  with  no  disastrous  reactions,  and  with 
no  failure  of  blessed  and  permanent  results.  Years  of 
trial  have  passed.  One  of  the  converts,  a  man  of  large 
acquaintance  in  and  out  of  l^ew  York,  recently  said  to 
me,  Of  all  those  hundreds  of  religious  young  men  I 
do  not  know  of  one  who  has  fallen  away."  But  we  do 
know  that  crowds  of  them  have  done  nobly,  as  citizens, 
voters,  men  of  business,  Sabbath-school  teachers,  super- 
intendents, church-members,  and  church-ofi&cers.  They 
have  been  especially  efiicient  in  the  prayer-room.  As 
we  have  considered  their  labors  in  varied  positions,  we 
have  been  amazed  at  the  possibilities  of  young  Chris- 
tians ;  and  we  have  joyfully  exclaimed  :  These  young 
men  have  not  only  been  reached,  but,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  they  have  also  been  kept 


V. 


EVANGELISTIC  MEETINGS. 

I  CAN  most  heartily  commend  to  my  brethren  these 
Evangelistic  meetings  where  efforts  are  made  for  the 
saving  of  souls.  They  often  follow  successfully  the 
week  of  prayer,  or  any  season  of  entire  consecration  to 
God.  They  are,  in  a  word,  simple,  free,  tender,  and 
loving.  There  is  Scripture,  prayer,  singing,  exhortation, 
and  pi'actical  instruction.  Any  one  may  ask  the  prayers 
of  God's  people.  Men  of  all  ages  may  take  part  and 
confess  Christ  in  a  word  of  testimony.  A  large  num- 
ber of  striking  hymns  and  tunes  are  learned,  and, 
thus  without  book  or  notice,  the  chorister  or  some  one 
often  strikes  a  tune  and  verse  appropriate  to  the  mo- 
ment. This  is  very  effective.  The  leader  sometimes 
announces  that  speeches  and  long  prayers  are  out  of 
place.  He  occupies  but  a  few  moments  in  opening  the 
meeting,  and  closes  with  the  hour.  Everything  is  short. 
Men  drop  the  usual  commencement  and  endings  of 
prayer,  and  ask  a  present  Saviour  for  what  they  now 
most  want.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  the  pastor  and 
prominent  members  of  the  church  converse  and  pray 
with  the  unconverted.  These  familiar  meetings  are 
certainly  Scriptural.    Paul  held  them  with  marvellous 


134  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

success  for  the  space  of  two  years  (Acts  xix.  10).  As 
I  was  recently  urging  an  officer  iu  a  neighboring  church 
to  adopt  such  meetings,  he  said  with  much  complacency, 
"I  am  greatly  in  favor  oi  'propriety ^  How  many  are 
thus  quieted. 

In  Dr.  S.  I.  Prime's  most  affecting  book  on  "  The 
Power  of  Prayer,"  we  find  just  about  this  same  method 
in  the  Fulton  Street  prayer-meetings.  And  oh !  what 
freedom  and  ease  and  spirituality ;  and  how  readily 
they  were  established.  They  spread  like  fires  of  the 
prairies  from  Washington  to  Omaha,  and  from  Maine 
to  Georgia  and  Canada  ;  then  to  Ireland  and  the  Old 
"World.  In  a  parish  these  meetings  should  always  be 
led  by  the  pastor.  The  whole  field  is  before  him.  He 
knows  the  state  of  feeling,  and  can,  each  evening,  bring 
forward  the  subject  most  needed.  For  example,  the 
church  may  sometimes  take  it  for  granted  that  the  work 
will  go  on  without  special  prayer,  action,  and  depend- 
ence on  God's  Spirit.  Sinners  may  have  no  depth  of 
feeling.  Alarming  truth  and  earnest  cries  to  God  are 
essential.  The  Monday-evening  discourse  is  attractive 
to  outsiders,  and  it  follows  up  the  impressions  of  the 
Sabbath.  These  three  sermons  give  opportunity  for  the 
discussion  of  weighty  and  needed  truth,  such  as  the 
justice  of  God,  the  holiness  and  eternal  penalty  of  his 
law,  as  well  as  his  infinite  love  and  mercy. 

But  how  are  decorum,  brevity,  and  appropriateness 
secured  where  there  is  so  much  freedom  ?    The  man 

m 


THE  ANGRY  MERCHANT. 


135 


who  is  inappropriate  or  tedious  is  kindly  spoken  to  in 
private. 

HOW  CONVERTED  MEN  ARE  LED  TO  TAKE  PART  IN  THE 
MEETINGS. 

This  duty  is  at  once  urged  upon  them  privately. 
During  the  meeting  the  leader  may  say  to  the  men  : 
"  Have  you  recently  received  anything  from  God  for 
which  you  would  praise  him  ? "  or  "  What  has  the 
Saviour  done  for  you  ? "  or  "  How  did  you  find  him 
precious  ? "  If  these  methods  fail,  a  person  may  some- 
times be  called  by  name. 

THE  ANGRY  MERCHANT. 

A  gentleman  in  New  York,  who  had  been  far  from 
religious,  said  to  me  the  other  day :  "  Do  you  remember 
when  you  came  down  to  my  store,  in  a  great  snow- 
storm, and  talked  with  me  about  my  soul,  and  urged 
me  to  attend  some  evening  services  at  your  church? 
My  reply  was,  '  My  store  is  open  evenings,  and  to  make 
a  living  I  must  attend  to  business.'  You  solemnly 
answered,  '  It  were  better  that  your  store  were  burned 
than  that  your  soul  were  lost.'  I  went  home  angry. 
Telling  my  wife  what  you  had  said,  I  declared  that  I 
would  never  enter  your  church  again.  But  all  the 
time  it  was  ringing  in  my  ears  '  Better  burned  than 
my  soul  lost.'  And  so  I  was  there  the  next  night,  and 
before  many  evenings  I  found  my  precious  Saviour 
I  enjoyed  the  meetings  greatly,  but  I  said  to  you, 


186  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

Under  no  circumstances  can  I  ever  utter  a  word.  One 
evening,  as  you  were  calling  upon  the  young  men  to 
speak  or  pray,  you  fixed  your  eye  on  me  and  quietly 
said,  '  Brother  Y.,  have  not  you  a  single  word  of  testi- 
mony to  the  goodness  of  your  Saviour  ? '  '  Yes,  sir,'  I  an- 
swered. Instantly  I  sprang  to  my  feet.  The  bands  were 
broken.  My  tongue  was  loosed.  Since  then  I  love  to  take 
my  part.  You  know,"  he  added,  "that  I  am  an  elder  in 
an  uptown  church.  A  gifted  young  man  was  recently 
converted  among  us.  Nothing  could  induce  him  to  take 
part  in  our  meetings.  As  I  had  charge  of  our  prayer- 
meeting  one  evening,  my  own  experience  came  to  mind. 
Addressing  the  young  man,  I  repeated  your  very  words  to 
me.  At  once  he  responded,  and  from  that  time  has  been 
one  of  our  most  frequent  and  impressive  speakers." 

The  easiest  and  best  time  for  a  man  to  speak  in  a 
prayer-meeting  is  when  he  begins  his  Christian  life. 
He  is  then  tender  and  grateful,  and  anxious  to  please 
his  Saviour.  He  prays  for  the  rescue  of  others.  He  is 
then  easily  influenced.  He  wants  to  do  his  whole  duty. 
Let  churches  never  forget  that  this  is  the  golden  time. 
And  with  multitudes  it  is  now  or  never.  He  should 
now  become  a  valiant  soldier  of  the  cross. 

BUT  WHY  NOT   BE   CONTENT   WITH    ONE    GOOD  WEEK- 
NIGHT  MEETING  ? 

Because  each  of  the  continuous  meetings  brings  to- 
gether twice  the  number  that  one   meeting  would. 


CONVERSION  OF  PRESIDENT  GARFIELD.  137 

These  constant  meetings  draw.  They  are  very  attrac- 
tive. There  is  something  doing.  It  is  a  daily  business 
of  absorbing  interest  and  enjoyment.  The  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  is  subduing  stubborn  wills.  An  influential  young 
man  once  said  to  me :  "  Before  my  conversion,  here  in 
these  meetings,  my  evenings  and  money  were  devoted 
to  the  Opera  and  Masonic  Lodge.  Now,  nothing  would 
keep  me  from  this  blessed  spot  for  a  single  night. 
These  young  men  feel  that  it  is  their  business  to  bring 
their  companions  to  these  services,  and  to  labor  here 
for  their  salvation.  For  years  I  had  no  need  to  urge 
an  attendance  upon  these  meetings. 

Again,  amusements  and  unnecessary  affairs  are  sur- 
rendered. It  is  not  the  meeting  one  night  and  the 
theatre  the  next.  The  mind  is  held  to  solemn  truth 
until  the  soul  is  saved.  God's  Spirit  is  cherished  and 
the  Devil  is  fairly  foiled.  He  hates  seasons  of  con- 
verting power  with  a  fierce,  Satanic  hatred,  and  he 
suggests  to  God's  people  all  kinds  of  objections  to 
them. 

THE  CONVEKSION  OF  PRESIDENT  GARFIELD. 

But  for  continuous  meetings  our  peerless  and  sainted 
President  Garfield  might  have  been  an  unprincipled 
skeptic.  At  his  funeral  the  preacher  said  in  sub- 
stance :  "  When  a  mere  lad,  James  A.  Garfield  attended 
a  series  of  religious  meetings.  After  a  few  nights  he 
went  to  the  preacher  and  said  to  him  :  '  If  these  things 


1 38  RE  VIVALS :  HO  W  AND  WHEN  ? 

you  say  are  true,  it  is  the  duty  and  highest  interest  of 
every  man,  especially  of  every  young  man,  to  accept  this 
religion  and  seek  to  be  a  man.  But,  really,  I  cannot  say 
that  I  honestly  and  fully  believe.  If  I  did  I  would 
gladly  give  it  my  heart  and  my  life.'  The  next  evening 
Christ  was  presented  as  'the  way,  the  truth,  and  the 
life.'  It  was  said  that  '  any  young  man  giving  to  Jesus 
his  hand,  his  heart,  and  his  life  would  be  safe,  if  there 
was  any  safety  in  the  universe  of  God.'  After  reflec- 
tion, young  Garfield  came  forward  and  gave  his  hand 
to  the  minister  as  a  pledge  of  his  acceptance  of  Christ. 
From  that  hour  Christ  was  the  guide  of  his  life.  From 
that  hour  he  turned  his  back  upon  the  sins  of  the  world 
forever."  Let  this  nation  thank  God  for  the  transcen- 
dant  blessing  that  came,  through  that  series  of  meetings, 
to  the  man,  the  country,  and  the  world.  In  the  case 
of  young  Garfield,  the  result  was  not  a  novelty.  We 
have  found  that  the  conversion  of  men  was  a  common 
thing  if  their  attendance  upon  a  series  of  earnest  and 
spiritual  meetings  could  be  secured  for  a  single  week. 

A  DESCRIPTION  OF  OUR  EVANGELISTIC  MEETINGS  IN  THE 
''NEW  YORK  INDEPENDENT." 

After  some  weeks  the  unknown  writer  was  found  to 
be  a  Brooklyn  pastor,  who  was  seated  with  the  congre- 
gation. He  writes  :  "  Glance  over  this  lecture-room  as- 
sembly. More  than  three  hundred  souls  are  here, 
mostly  youth,  a  large  number  of  whom  were  from 


OUR  EVANGELISTIC  MEETINGS. 


139 


such  clerk-crowded  establishments  as  Lord  &  Taylor's. 
The  pastor  says,  '  Many  of  you  have  already  decided 
for  Jesus ;  but,  alas  !  some  are  still  halting.  Oh,  that 
you  would  determine  now  to  serve  the  Lord  I  Brethren 
pray  for  them.'  It  is  done.  Such  prayers.  One,  two, 
three,  we  never  heard  excelled.  Short,  quick,  pointed, 
in  childlike  simplicity,  as  with  a  finger  playing  among 
shells  and  pebbles,  yet  soldier-like  as  the  rattling 
of  musketry.  These  words  of  one  are  a  type  of  the 
whole. 

"  He  said :  '  Do  Lord  have  mercy  on  these  delaying 
souls.  Do  have  patience  with  them  a  little  longer.' 
Will  he  not  hear  such  pleas  ?  AVill  not  the  very 
hymns,  with  their  melodies  here  sung,  touch  the 
divine  sympathy  ?  '  One  sweetly  solemn  thought,' 
*  There  '11  be  no  sorrow  there,'  'Just  as  I  am,  with- 
out one  plea,'  —  these  are  the  heart-strains  that  ring 
in  those  heaven-circles,  sweeter  than  angels'  songs. 
The  pastor  reads  from  that  part  of  the  Hebrews  which 
pictures  to  us  the  amphitheatre  of  the  saints  above 
smiling  down  upon  the  cloud  of  contenders  here,  who 
are  running  with  patience  the  race  set  before  them. 
He  warns  the  converts  against  their  besetting  sins. 
He  stimulates  them  to  faith,  hope,  and  victory,  telling 
them  of  the  converted  slave  whose  wicked  master  said 
to  him,  '  The  Devil  will  have  you  yet.'  '  No  massa  ! 
he  won't,  for  if  he  could  not  keep  me  when  he  had  me, 
he  can't  get  me  now  that  Jesus  holds  me.'    Esau's  sale 


140  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

of  his  birthright  and  his  desert  life  are  given  as  types 
of  those  who  give  up  heaven  to  wander  and  perish. 
Remorse  must  gnaw  upon  such  a  soul.  It  is  hazardous 
to  reject  a  faithful  warning.  God  sometimes  gives  up 
such  an  one,  as  he  did  the  carpenter  who  fell  from  the 
house-top  and  died  before  the  friend  was  out  of  sight 
who  had  just  been  vainly  urging  him  to  Christ. 

" '  Now,  Christians,  tell  us  how  you  came  to  Christ. 
What  led  to  your  decision  ?  Can  you  commend  him 
to  these  friends  ? '  And  so  they  respond.  Their  words 
are  not  sermon-tones,  as  from  heavy  ringing  bells  in 
high  belfry  pulpits,  but  heart-ringings,  like  winter's 
merry  bells.  '  Oh,'  says  one,  '  trusting  in  Jesus  for  par- 
don, I  said  in  my  heart,  "  Let  others  do  as  they  may,  I 
will  forever  serve  the  Lord."  And  he  did  not  spurn  me.' 
Said  another :  '  With  tears  of  penitence  I  gave  myself 
soul  and  body  to  him,  and  I  thank  God  I  may  trust 
him  to  the  end.  For  he,  who  gave  us  these  powers, 
will  give  us  the  strength  we  need'  And  now  they 
sing  — 

'  Kever  be  afraid  to  speak  for  Jesus.' 

"  Said  one  :  '  A  young  man  said  to  me  to-day,  "  It  is 
all  excitement."  But  who  is  not  excited  when  striving 
to  secure  a  great  prize  ?  We  are  striving  to  secure  the 
favor  of  God  and  eternal  life.'  Says  another :  '  He  that 
is  for  us  is  greater  than  they  that  be  against  us.  The 
Spirit  of  God  whispered  that  to  me,  and  it  led  me,  a 
great  sinner,  to  a  great  and  precious  Saviour.'    Said  an- 


OUR  EVANGELISTIC  MEETINGS. 


141 


other :  '  I  have  not  one  inch  of  ground  on  earth,  but  I 
trust  I  have  a  mansion  in  heaven.'  And  so  they  sing 
that  exquisite  melody  — 

'  I  am  climbing  up  Zion's  hill. ' 

" '  Yes,'  adds  a  voice,  '  that  summit  shall  be  reached. 
But  will  all  men  reach  heaven  ?  No  !  Said  a  young 
man,  "  Before  I  die  I  am  going  to  be  rich."  — What 
then  ?" — "I  don't  know."  Is  he  in  the  road  to  heaven?' 
Then  tliey  sweetly  sing  — 

'  Nearer,  my  God,  to  thee.' 

"Very  marked  indeed  were  the  brevity  and  pointed- 
ness  of  all  those  prayers  and  remarks.  The  pastor 
spoke  three  times,  prayed  twice,  and  read  the  Scrip- 
tures, all  in  about  fifteen  minutes.  Sometimes  a  prayer 
was  a  little  over  a  minute  long.  We  seemed  there  in  a 
kind  of  spiritual  forest,  where  love-birds  twittered,  truth- 
leaves  trembled,  life-drops  pattered,  and  heaven-fruits 
rattled  down  upon  us.  And  here  we  thought,  we  have 
found  the  model  prayer-meeting." 

This  extract  describes  the  last  meeting  of  the  week, 
where  the  double  object  is  to  strengthen  converts  and 
to  influence  the  halting.  It  shows  the  method  of  the 
meeting,  but  gives  a  meagre  idea  of  its  matter.  One 
year  the  conversions  were  so  constant  that  we  could  not 
stop  the  meetings  for  four  months.  That  year  seemed 
to  stamp  the  character  of  converts  for  life.  I  have 
given  these  accounts  of  our  work,  by  persons  outside  of 


142 


RE VI VAL S:  HOW  AND   WHEN ? 


the  church,  because  they  minutely  describe  our  methods 
and  because  they  make  no  complaint  of  any  disorder  or 
undue  excitement. 

These  same  methods  have  been  used  successfully  by 
other  churches.  Horatio  BuUard,  Esq.,  of  the  late  Dr. 
Street's  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Courtland  Village,  N.  Y., 
recently  states  that  "  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  per- 
sons had  joined  the  church  at  their  two  last  communion 
services."  He  adds  :  "  The  evening  meetings  through 
the  week  continue  to  be  thronged.  All  are  accustomed 
to  give  utterance  to  their  thoughts  in  these  social  gather- 
ings. The  voice  of  the  new  convert  distils  like  the  dew. 
His  brief  words  drop  as  the  rain,  reviving  the  hopes  of 
the  disconsolate  and  producing  holy  desires.  These  are 
the  influences,  put  forth  in  the  persuasive  love  of  Christ, 
that  God  has  so  signally  blest." 

BUT  IT  IS  SAID,  "WHY  NOT  LEAVE   THIS    SAME  WORK 
TO  BE  DONE  PRIVATELY  ?  " 

Because  it  won't  be  done.  If  it  could  be  done  pri- 
vately, it  would  greatly  enhance  the  labor.  "  Men  who 
feel  weak  alone  are  courageous  together.  This  is  the 
case  with  an  army.  The  men  inspire  each  other.  Sym- 
pathy and  association  are  prodigious  forces.  And  when 
moved  by  the  truth  and  Spirit  of  God  they  are  al- 
most irresistible.  The  methods  we  have  considered  are 
simple.  Any  church  can  employ  them  without  outside 
help,  and  they  are  exceedingly  profitable  to  the  work- 


A  HARVEST  AT  ALL  SEASONS. 


143 


ers  themselves.  We  have  found  that  in  plan  and  pre- 
paration there  is  wisdom;  in  prayer  and  testimony, 
there  is  blessedness,  in  concentration  of  purpose  and 
Christian  toil  there  is  force,  and  in  passion  for  souls  and 
dependence  on  God  there  is  marvellous  success. 

SHOULD  WE  NOT  ALWAYS  CHERISH  THE  SPIRIT  OF  GOD  ? 

Certainly !  We  insist  upon  this.  From  the  beginning 
to  the  end  of  the  year  this  is  all  the  Lord's  business. 
But  we  cannot  have  extra  services  all  the  year.  The 
merchant  and  the  farmer  have  seasons  of  extra  business 
and  special  harvests.  They  make  preparation  for  these 
seasons,  and  follow  them  with  needed  labors.  We  have 
drifted  out  of  revivals,  but  we  have  never  yet  drifted 
into  one.  They  have  always  followed  a  preparation  of 
heart  and  life. 

WHY  NOT  GATHER  A  HARVEST  OF  SOULS  AT  ALL 
SEASONS  OF  THE  YEAR  ? 

On  this  subject  there  is  some  senseless  talk.  At  all 
times  and  places  Clnistians  should  in  some  way  be 
laboring  for  souls.  The  summer  is  a  hot  busy  season  in 
the  country.  And  yet  there  may  be  times  when  con- 
gTegations  could  be  gathered  during  the  week.  In  the 
city  a  promiscuous  assembly  might  be  gathered.  But 
regular  parishes  are  broken  up.  And  those  who  remain 
at  home  are  exhausted  by  the  heat,  and  deadly  diseases 
are  often  prevailing.     The  late  fall  and  winter  come. 


144 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


The  evenings  are  long.  The  ah'  is  bracing.  Business 
is  slack.  The  city  is  filled  with  attractive  amusements, 
and  Christians  find  that  God,  in  his  sovereignty,  has 
made  this  season  of  the  year  most  favorable  for  Evange- 
listic meetings.  And  while  we  are  planning,  praying, 
and  preparing  for  that  time,  we  feel  that  God  is  always 
blessing  us  and  that  we  are  striving  to  be  as  wise  as  the 
children  of  light. 

WHY  NOT  DEPEND  ON  PREACHING-SERVICES  ? 

We  must  have  the  preached  word,  and  that  preach- 
ing must  meet  the  exigency  of  the  case.  But  no  pastor 
could  be  expected  to  lecture  every  evening  for  months. 
If  he  could,  it  might  greatly  weaken  the  zeal  and  activ- 
ity of  the  church.  The  commander  of  an  army  is  not 
alone  in  the  strife.  By  his  tact  and  magnetism  he 
enlists  the  soldiery  in  the  conflict.  So  in  these  Evange- 
listic meetings.  The  pastor  and  the  people  are  enlisted 
in  the  warfare.  Every  young  convert  becomes  a  soldier 
of  the  cross.  He  is  taught  how  to  reach  others.  And 
sometimes  his  marvellous  change,  his  burning  zeal,  and 
his  wealth  of  love  are  overpowering.  Together  the  dis- 
ciples commune  with  Jesus,  their  leader.  They  rest 
upon  the  Holy  Ghost.  They  gain  increasing  harmony, 
courage,  robustness,  and  success.  Thus  the  Lord's  host 
becomes  an  army  of  veterans.  And  w^hile  so  many 
Christians  are  seeking  happiness  as  an  end,  these  find  it 
in  their  conflicts.   Their  glorious  victories  bring  to  them 


PASTORS  DISSATISFIED. 


145 


ecstasies  of  joy.  By  these  methods  young  converts  are 
not  left  to  sink  into  darkness  and  doubt.  They  do  not 
bring  reproach  upon  revivals  of  religion  by  a  careless, 
worldly  life. 

Now  there  are  crowds  of  men  in  our  churches  who 
might  deeply  move  a  prayer-meeting  assembly.  The  pas- 
tor and  his  church  might  thus  be  working  together  with 
sphntual  energy.  But  in  many  cases  this  kind  of  spirit- 
ual force  is  left  to  one  man.  0  !  what  loss,  loss,  loss  ! 
The  tender,  loving,  social  power  is  wanting.  And  only 
now  and  then  one  single  soul  may  be  led  to  rest  in 
Jesus  and  join  the  silent  band.  The  results  of  mere 
preaching  are  not  always  satisfactory.  A  pastor  has 
said  that  in  his  examinations  for  admission  to  the  cliurch 
during  the  last  twenty  years,  only  forty-five  out  of  three 
hundred  and  eighty  persons  ascribed  their  awakening  to 
Sabbath  sermons  or  to  the  weekly  lecture.  As  the  re- 
sult of  Evangelistic  prayer-meetings  many  hundreds  of 
thousands  have  been  won  to  Christ  in  a  few  years. 

DISTINGUISHED  PASTORS   DISSATISFIED  WITH  MERE 
PREACHING. 

Dr.  Lyman  Beecher's  preaching  has  been  said  to  be 
"  a  succession  of  thunderbolts."  'No  one  knew  where 
he  would  strike.  Dr.  Todd,  Sr.,  has  said  that  the 
power  of  Dr.  Nettleton's  preaching  could  not  be  de- 
scribed. Yet  both  these  men  were  devoted  to  prayer 
and  inquiry-meetings.     Here  they  reaped  their  great 


146 


BEVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


harvests.  Says  a  pastor :  "  In  a  time  of  discouragement 
I  threw  myself  in  secret  on  the  promises  of  God.  I  be- 
sought him  to  bless  my  effort.  I  gave  notice  of  prayer- 
meetings.  That  notice  awakened  two  sinners.  The  Lord 
anticipated  our  work.    The  blessing  followed." 

Now  let  every  minister  and  every  follower  of  Christ 
throw  himself  in  secret  on  the  unfailing  promises  of 
God,  and  determine  to  do  the  best  things  for  the  salva- 
tion of  others.  No  matter  what  are  the  discourage- 
ments. "The  Lord  is  with  you  while  ye  be  with 
him."  If  nothing  better  offers,  have  a  season  of  united 
prayer. 

HOW  TO  COMMENCE  AN    EVANGELISTIC  PRAYER-MEETING. 

•  In  the  saddest  of  all  times,  Esther  started  the  great 
prayer-meeting  that  saved  her  nation.  In  commencing 
the  Fulton  Street  Evangelistic  prayer-meeting  Mr.  Lam- 
phi  er  did  not  wait  for  a  crowd.  During  his  first  half- 
hour  he  was  alone.  Then  came  in  a  godly  man,  who 
was  afterward  one  of  my  elders.  Then  crowds  of  men 
were  gathering  to  the  spot,  even  at  noonday.  Let  the 
pastor,  or  any  man  or  woman,  humbly  and  prayerfully 
enlist  some  friend  in  this  consecration  to  God.  Let 
them  plead  the  promise  of  Jesus,  "If  two  of  you  shall 
agree  on  earth  as  touching  anything  that  they  shall  ask, 
it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven  "  (Matt,  xviii.  19).  Then  enlist  one  and  another 
in  the  movement.    Then  tell  it  to  the  church.  Never 


HOW  TO  COMMENCE  A  PRAYER-MEETING.  147 

waver  because  you  are  few  and  feeble.  Jesus  said  to 
the  distressed  father  :  "  If  thou  canst  believe,  all  things 
are  possible  to  him  that  believeth "  (Mark  ix,  23). 
Press  on  with  settled  purpose  and  strengthening  faith, 
and  light  will  shine.  The  fire  will  glow.  Help  will 
come, — help  from  heaven. 

When  by  this  or  any  other  method  you  have  brought 
a  considerable  number  of  Christians  to  a  full  consecra- 
tion to  God  and  his  work,  then  gather  in  the  ungodly. 
Let  parents,  Bible  and  Sunday-school  teachers,  and 
young  people  bring  in  their  friends.  Then  under  the 
lead  of  the  pastor,  with  the  one  purpose  of  saving  the 
lost,  you  may  engage  in  these  Evangelistic  meetings. 
In  this  way  the  feeblest  church  may  effect  wonders, 
while  the  ablest  church  may  secure  results  that  will 
seem  miraculous.  I  know  of  a  daily  prayer-meeting 
which  began  with  two  or  three  devoted  Christians. 
In  time  it  was  attended  by  hundreds.  I  know  of 
another  that  commenced  with  twenty  and  ended  with 
a  thousand.  You  need  God.  Let  your  cry  of  confi- 
dence ascend,  "  Help  Lord,  for  the  godly  man  ceaseth  " 
(Ps.  xii.  1). 

FEAR  OF  WILDFIRE. 

Some  persons  are  afraid  that  these  daily  meetings 
may  produce  too  much  agitation.  The  late  Dr.  Bush- 
nell  of  Hartford  has  said  "that  the  man  who  expects 
to  carry  the  cause  of  salvation  by  a  steady  rolling  on 


148  REVIVALS:  HOW  AXD  WHEX? 

the  same  dead  level,  and  fears  continually  lest  the  axles 
wax  hot  and  kindle  into  a  flame,  he  is  too  timorous  to 
hold  the  reins  in  the  Lord's  chariot." 

I  do  not  find  in  Scripture  any  adamantine  rule 
for  the  conduct  of  religious  service,  but  I  do  find  there 
revival  measures  of  infinite  value.  What  a  break-up 
of  heart  and  life  in  the  days  of  Josiah.  After  a 
season  of  deep  liumiliation  in  the  church,  how  Heze- 
kiah  gathered  the  people  to  a  protracted  meeting  of 
great  excitement  and  wonderful  gladness.  Dr.  Lard- 
ner  says,  in  his  "  Ecclesiastical  History,"  that  "  the  early 
churches  assembled  every  day."  It  is  said  that  they 
met  for  worship  morning  and  evening.  Paul  and  Silas 
were  persecuted  because  they  excited  the  people  and  in- 
troduced doctrines  and  customs  that  were  unlawful.  In 
these  latter  days  we  also  find  that  the  daily  service  has, 
at  certain  times,  been  attempted  by  nearly  every  denomi- 
nation of  Christians.  By  this  means  the  Jesuit  Fathers 
have  brought  millions  into  the  communion  of  the  Catho- 
lic church.  Some  time  since  the  Episcopalians  of  Lon- 
don, by  what  they  call  their  Missions,  are  said  to  have 
set  forward  their  church  as  it  had  not  been  for  a 
hundred  years. 

There  are  crowds  of  persons  who  engage  in  such 
meetings  with  such  confidence  in  God  that  tbey  have 
not  a  thought  of  failure.  Each  church  must  select  its 
own  time  for  the  conmrencement  of  such  services.  The 
season  set  apart  by  the  churches  as  a  Week  of  Prayer 


FEAR  OF  WILDFIRE. 


149 


will  usually  be  found  most  appropriate  and  hopeful. 
During  that  week  let  the  church  be  filled  with  hu- 
mility, penitence,  and  trust.  Let  your  soul  be  radi- 
ant with  the  love  of  Jesus.  Then  as  one  service  each 
day  is  continued  from  week  to  week,  let  the  salvation 
of  the  lost  be  your  supreme  aim.  Thus,  peradventure, 
God  will  give  you  a  blessing  that  shall  transcend  your 
fondest  hopes. 


VI. 


HOUSEHOLD  EEVR^ALS. 

There  is  nothing  more  shocking  to  me  than  the  irre- 
ligion  and  eternal  wreck  of  the  children  of  Christian 
parents.  How  can  such  loving  parents  rest  w^hile  their 
children  are  exposed  to  such  irretrievable  disaster  ? 

A  CHILD  lost! 

Upon  the  high  stoop  of  one  of  our  avenue  mansions 
I  once  saw  a  lady  wringing  her  hands  and  weeping  in 
anguish.  She  peered  into  the  darkness.  She  gazed  at 
every  form  and  listened  to  every  footstep ;  and  her  cry 
of  anguish  was,  "  My  darling  child  is  lost."  Different 
parts  of  the  city  were  visited.  I  enlisted  with  others 
in  the  anxious  search.  During  that  fearful  uncertainty 
the  mother  almost  swooned.  What  cared  she  then  for 
all  the  splendors  of  earth  ?  And  when  at  last  that  little 
daughter  was  led  up  the  steps,  the  mother  clasped  her 
to  her  bosom  with  uncontrollable  weeping,  —  w^eeping  for 
joy ;  the  lost  is  found.  Is  your  child  now  a  w^anderer 
from  the  fold  of  Christ  ?  Then  he  is  lost.  And  if  he 
is  not  found,  lie  will  forever  miss  the  raptures  of  heaven, 
and  will  become  an  eternal  wanderer  with  fiendish  com- 


THE  NEGLECT  OF  PARENTS. 


151 


panions.  But  parents  often  say,  "  My  child  is  not  yet 
accountable."  A  mother  once  said  this  to  me ;  and, 
yet,  her  exceedingly  intelligent  boy  was  sixteen  years 
old.  We  cannot  determine  the  moment  when  accounta- 
bility commences.  But  it  may  be  much  earlier  than 
we  suppose.  Jesus  said,  "  Suffer  the  little  children  to 
come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not "  (Mark  x.  14).  He 
infinitely  prizes  their  sweet  love  and  trust.  Bring  them 
to  him.  It  is  Satan  who  would  delude  parents  with  the 
idea  that  their  children  are  too' young  to  love  Jesus. 

HOW  CAN  CHILDREN  UNDERSTAND  THE  WAY  OF 
SALVATION  ? 

The  way  is  so  plain  that  "  fools  shall  not  err  therein  " 
(Tsai.  XXXV.  8).  We  do  not  speak  to  them  of  regenera- 
tion, faith,  and  systematic  theology.  They  choose 
and  love  and  hate.  They  cling  to  loving  friends  with 
perfect  trust.  They  sorrow  for  wrong-doing,  and  rejoice 
in  the  forgiveness  of  parents.  They  can  be  sorry  for 
their  sins  against  their  Heavenly  Father.  They  can  fear 
his  eternal  displeasure.  They  can  love  and  trust  the 
precious  Jesus  who  died  to  save  them  ;  and  he  who 
carries  the  lambs  in  his  bosom  (Isai.  xl.  11)  will  keep 
them  to  the  end. 

THE  NEGLECT  OF  PARENTS. 

The  incredulity  and  lethargy  of  some  parents  upon 
this  subject  is  most  appalling.    It  is  the  ruin  of  thou- 


152  EEVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

sands.  Mothers !  your  precious  children  can  and  must 
be  saved.  Josiali  was  a  Christian  boy.  At  the  age  of 
eight  years  "  he  did  that  which  was  right."  So  were 
Samuel  and  Timothy  Christian  children.  So  doubt- 
less were  some  who  in  the  Temple  cried  "  Hosanna  to 
the  Son  of  David;"  and  Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit,  and 
thanked  God  that  he  had  "  revealed  these  things  unto 
babes."  How  the  conversion  of  your  children  would 
please  Jesus.  A  distinguished  and  sugjcessful  pastor, 
Eev.  Dr.  Thomas  Hastings  of  this  city,  has  said  to  me : 
"  I  became  a  Christian  and  a  church-member  at  the  age 
of  eight  years.  I  believe  in  the  conversion  of  young 
children."  So  are  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of 
children  truly  born  again.  And  while  they  are  still 
imperfect,  yet  "  out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  suck- 
lings God  will  perfect  praise." 

HOPEFUL  CHILDREN. 

But  parents  are  often  quieted  by  the  favorable  appear- 
ance of  young  children.  I  remember  two  Christian 
mothers  who  said  to  me,  "  I  have  not  a  fear  about  my 
boy.  He  loves  Bible  stories.  He  always  says  his  prayers. 
He  likes  the  Sabbath-school.  He  is  docile  and  teach- 
able. And  I  believe  that  God,  who  has  begun  a  good 
work,  will  perform  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ" 
(Phil.  i.  6).  Not  many  years  after,  one  of  those  boys 
was  a  dissolute  sailor;  and  the  other,  in  the  midst  of 
Christian  young  men,  was  a  hardened  sinner.    God  had 


CHILDREN  CONVERTED  WHILE  YOUNG.  153 


not  begun  a  good  work  in  their  hearts.  For  the  good 
work  to  which  Paul  refers  w^as  true  conversion.  He 
was  writing  to  the  saints.  Because  these  sons  were 
favorably  disposed,  these  mothers  believed  that  they 
would  surely  persevere  as  Christians.  How  many  pa- 
rents are  fatally  deceived  and  satisfied  with  such  hope- 
ful prospects.  When  the  young  man  that  Jesus  loved 
ran  and  threw  himself  down  before  him,  and  asked 
what  he  should  do  to  inherit  eternal  life,  every  one 
must  have  said,  "  Surely  he  will  be  a  disciple."  But 
he  was  not.  Men  mistake  conviction  for  conversion. 
Said  Christ,  "He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me." 
Never  for  a  moment  be  satisfied  with  getting  children 
ready  to  be  saved.    Briug  them  at  once  to  Jesus. 

CHILDREN    SHOULD   BE    CONVERTED  W^HILE  YOUNG, 
BECAUSE  THEY  ARE  THEN  READILY  MOVED. 

They  are  won  to  Christ  with  comparative  ease.  When 
children  reach  a  certain  age  they  may  have  habits,  as- 
1/  sociations,  and  tendencies  to  sin  that  are  constantly 
strengthening.  Skepticism  and  self-will  may  blind  the 
mind  and  steel  the  heart.  The  soul  may  be  enslaved 
by  fashion,  heresy,  and  care.  Character  may  be  stereo- 
typed. "  Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin  ?  "  Satan 
may  become  his  tyrannical  master.  This  world  may 
become  his  idol.  And  thus  he  may  live  and  die.  Thus 
he  may  reach  his  eternal  home. 

Dr.  T.  L.  Cuyler  has  suggested  a  striking  illustration : 


154  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

"  You  Stand  upon  the  shore  of  Xiagara  rapids.  Thou- 
sands are  being  swept  over  the  falls.  By  the  most 
tremendous  anxiety  and  effort  one  is  occasionally  res- 
cued. The  joyful  news  flies  with  swiftest  wing  all 
over  the  laud.  Now,  go  back  some  five  miles  above 
the  cataract,  and  rescue  the  children  who  are  in  com- 
paratively still  waters." 

A  little  child  goes  from  one  thing  to  another.  He 
is  easily  changed.  He  has  a  tender  and  docile  heart. 
He  has  no  uncontrollable  habits.  His  sin  may  be  con- 
quered in  the  germ.  He  has  unbounded  faith  in  the 
teaching  of  his  parents  ;  and,  under  the  influence  of 
God's  truth  and  Spirit,  he  may  be  led  to  love  the  story 
of  the  cross,  and  rest  his  little  all  in  the  arms  of  the 
loving  Jesus. 

PIOUS  CHILDEEX  MAY  AVOID  COMING  DANGER. 

An  unrepenting  child  may  die  and  lose  his  soul. 
We  must  be  upon  the  safe  side.  A  Christian  friend  of 
mine  allowed  his  restless  boy  to  go  to  sea.  He  fell  from 
the  mast  and  was  instantly  killed.  "  0  God,"  cried 
the  agonized  father,  "  if  I  only  had  my  boy  again  he 
should  never  leave  me  till  he  was  a  child  of  God." 

Mothers,  I  have  seen  parents  bending  over  their 
dying  boy.  His  skin  was  parched,  his  breath  was  hot, 
his  brain  was  crazed.  The  mother's  cry  was  :  "  ^Yon't 
my  boy  speak  to  me  ?  0  my  precious,  give  me  one 
sign  that  you  know  me,  one  evidence  that  you  are  pre- 


THE  LOSS  OF  CHILDREN. 


155 


pared  to  die."  But  the  only  response  was  the  delirious 
moan,  the  fatal  stupor,  and  the  rigidity  of  death.  It 
was  too  late.  Parents  !  your  dear  children  are  exposed 
to  death  temporal  and  death  eternal.  You  may  die  and 
leave  them  to  be  swept  away.  You  may  close  your 
doors  at  night ;  but  there  are  tempters  prowling  with- 
out far  more  frightful  than  robbers  against  w^hom  you 
bolt  your  door  and  bar  your  windows.  Hasten  then ! 
Allure  your  dear  children  to  your  own  heart  and  home. 
Win  them  to  Jesus.  Then  they  ahall  be  kept  by  the 
power  of  God. 

EVEN  DISTINGUISHED  CHRISTIANS  LOSE  THEIR  CHILDREN. 

They  may  be  absorbed  in  their  own  Christian  joy  or 
Christian  work.  They  loiter.  They  do  not  say  "  My 
child  must  noiu  be  saved."  There  is  anxiety  and  prayer, 
instruction  and  good  intention.  But  they  never  say, 
"  We  now  bring  this  child  to  Jesus,"  assured  that  he 
will  at  once  heal  him.  For  the  present  they  leave 
him  in  his  sins,  liable  to  be  swept  away  by  the  force 
and  fascination  of  the  world.   And  so  the  child  is  lost. 

Who  can  witness  the  death-struggles  of  Eli  and  David, 
and  hear  the  heart-cry  of  these  saints  over  their  wretched 
and  perishing  sons,  without  a  shudder  ?  And  Lot,  who 
was  fleeing  away  from  the  fire  and  brimstone  that  was 
destroying  his  daughters.  Their  history  was  written 
for  our  warning.  In  1880  it  w^as  moved  not  to  receive 
Charles  Bradlaugh  into  the  British  Parliament,  because 


156  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

he  was  an  infidel.  His  father  and  mother  were  pro- 
fessed Christians,  and  his  brother  was  a  zealous  preacher. 
I  have  heard  the  father  of  Robert  Ingersoll,  the  blas- 
phemer, preacli  a  most  impressive  sermon.  The  three 
sons  of  one  of  America's  most  learned  and  popular 
divines  were  schoolmates  of  mine.'  They  all  grew  to 
manhood,  and  they  all  died  out  of  the  church.  I  know 
a  Reverend  Father,  prominent  in  our  Israel,  who,  now, 
lingers  upon  the  border-land,  sighing  over  the  skepticism 
and  irreligion  of  sons  and  grandsons.  There  was  surely 
nothing  in  the  sovereignty  of  God  to  prevent  these 
parents  from  saying  with  Joshua,  "As  for  me  and 
7ny  house,  ice  v:ill  serve  the  Lord."  Jesus  always 
healed  the  children  brought  to  him  by  their  parents. 
One  object  of  his  death  was  "  to  gather  the  lambs 
with  his  arms,  and  to  carry  them  in  his  bosom."  Says 
Peter,  "  The  promise  is  unto  you  and  to  your  children" 
(Acts  ii.  39).  But  many  parents  do  not  half  believe 
God's  promises.  He  says,  "And  I  will  establish  my 
covenant  between  me  and  thee  ...  to  be  a  God  unto 
thee  and  to  thy  seed  after  thee  "  (Gen.  xvii.  7).  But,  as 
in  the  days  of  Josiah,  we  must  believe  and  enter  into 
and  abide  by  the  covenant.  This  is  not  a  covenant  to 
destroy,  but  to  save.  This  pleading  for  children  brings 
parents  into  sweet  and  close  intimacy  with  Jesus. 


HOW  CHILDREN  WERE  CONVERTED.  157 


HOW  CHILDEEN  WERE  CONVERTED. 

Confiding  in  God's  promises  I  at  one  time  became 
very  anxious  for  my  two  little  daughters,  aged  ten  and 
twelve  years.  With  others  they  attended  a  select  school, 
conducted  by  eminently  Christian  teachers.  We  worked 
together  Avith  the  one  aim  of  winning  all  these  children 
to  Christ.  God  blessed  our  simple,  direct,  and  earnest 
instruction  and  prayers. 

A  precious  lad  ten  years  old,  belonging  to  one  of  the  ^ 
highest  official  families  of  the  State,  was  converted,  and 
soon  after  died  in  hope.  My  two  daughters  asked  to 
be  examined  for  admission  to  the  church.  The  session 
wished  to  receive  them  at  once.  I  proposed  that  they 
remain  under  my  instruction  until  the  next  commu- 
nion. Before  that  time  the  younger  child  had  joined 
the  Church  Triumphant.  While  singing  at  her  bed- 
side that  sweet  hymn  of  Mary  Lundy  Duncan's,  she 
joined  in  tliis  verse  :  — 

'*  Let  my  sins  be  all  forgiven, 
Bless  the  friends  I  love  so  well ; 
Take  me  M'hen  I  die  to  heaven, 
Happy  there  with  thee  to  dwell." 

This  was  the  end.  She  closed  her  eyes  at  once,  sank 
back  upon  her  pillow,  and  breathed  her  last.  The  other 
sister  lived,  a  sweet,  loving,  Christian  life,  full  of  reli- 
gious cheer  and  activity.    Three  weeks  from  the  day  of 


158  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEW? 

her  marriage  to  a  young  settled  pastor,  she  died  in  this 
city  in  ecstasies  of  joy.  We  called  her  the  "Angel 
Bride."  People  had  said,  in  reference  to  that  work,  "  It 
is  nothing  but  the  passing  excitement  of  little  children." 
But  in  reviewing  those  scenes,  how  often  have  I  ex- 
claimed, "For  the  confidence  I  have  in  the  saving  re- 
sults of  that  work  I  would  not  take  ten  thousand  thou- 
sand worlds."    It  was  easy,  it  was  safe,  it  was  divine. 

GODLY  CHILDREN  MAKE  HAPPY  HOUSEHOLDS. 

Instead  of  dragging  through  life  with  crushing  fear 
that  darling  children  may  die  in  their  sins,  parents  are 
filled  with  hope  and  cheer.  How  many  fears  the  chil- 
dren will  escape.  How  many  sins  they  will  never  com- 
mit.  How  many  ills  they  will  never  endure.  The 
household  of  one  Christian  parent  is  full  of  light  and 
song,  while  the  dwelling  of  another  is  shrouded  ever 
in  threatening  clouds.  How  vast  and  sad  the  contrast. 
Christian  parents !  you  can  do  for  your  children  what 
no  one  else  can  do.  And  you  will  answer  for  them  at 
the  Judgment  as  no  one  else  will.  Your  first  imperative 
duty  is  to  lead  them  to  the  Saviour.  If  you  are  your- 
J  self  out  of  Christ's  fold,  press  through  the  open  door, 
taking  your  loved  ones  with  you. 

CHPJSTIAN  CHILDKEN  MAY  BE  EXCEEDINGLY  USEFUL. 

They  can  talk  and  pray  with  their  companions,  and 
invite  them  to  meetings.    They  can  set  them  a  loving 


PIOUS  CHILDREN  ESCAPE  DIFFICULTIES.  159 

example,  and  in  various  ways  can  do  them  good.  When 
I  was  a  young  pastor  a  young  child  was  converted 
who  lived  near  to  a  large  academy.  At  recess  she 
used  to  invite  her  mates  to  her  own  chamber.  There 
they  talked  and  sang  and  prayed,  and  several  of  her 
companions  were  won  to  Jesus.  Christ's  lambs  may 
often  lead  their  elders  to  the  Saviour.  A  volume  might 
be  filled  with  thrilling  accounts  of  sinful,  unbelieving, 
hardened  parents  thus  saved  by  the  earnest  prayer  and 
loving  words  of  children.  We  know  of  one  dissolute, 
blaspheming  man  who  was  led  to  the  Sabbath-school 
by  his  godly  child.  He  was  there  converted.  He  has, 
since  founded  eleven  hundred  Sabbath-schools  in  our 
Western  country. 

PIOUS  CHILDREN  MAY  ESCAPE  MANY  DIFFICULTIES. 

They  may  select  for  life  a  useful  calling.  They  may 
avoid  a  business  injurious  to  others.  I  have  known 
men  who  were  lost  because  they  would  not  give  up 
a  baneful  business,  and  I  have  known  men  in  great 
straits  because  of  their  former  dishonesty.  I  remember 
'an  interesting  man  of  business  who  was  deeply  anxious 
for  his  soul,  but  his  business  transactions  were  such 
that  he  could  not  follow  Christ  without  a  financial 
sacrifice.  Here  he  stood.  He  was  in  anguish  of  spirit. 
But  the  power  of  God's  truth  and  Spirit  finally  pre- 
vailed, and  he  gave  up  all  for  Jesus.  This  trial  and 
danger  would  have  been  avoided  had  his  pious  parents 
won  him  to  the  Saviour  in  his  childhood. 


160 


REVIVALS:  BOW  AXD  WHEN? 


THE  RESULT  OF  GODLY  TRAINING. 

Pious  children,  trained  in  the  service  of  the  Lord,  may 
effect  vastly  more  than  they  would  do  if  left  to  grow  up 
in  sin.  How  many  sainted  reformers,  like  Samuel  and 
Timothy  and  Baxter  and  Edwards,  were  young  disciples. 
Josiah  did  that  which  was  right  at  the  age  of  eight  years. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  sought  the  special  lilessing  of 
God.  When  twenty  years  old  he  commenced  and  car- 
ried out  one  of  the  most  stupendous  religious  reforms. 
The  possibilities  of  a  converted  youth  are  wonderful. 

MR.  ANSON  G.  PHELPS. 

This  man  was  the  founder  of  the  firm  of  Phelps, 
Dodge,  &  Co.  in  New  York  City.  He  was  tlie  orphan 
son  of  most  reputable  and  godly  parents.  AMien  young 
he  was  converted  to  Christ  in  a  revival  of  religion  in 
Hartford,  Conn.  On  his  removal  to  iSTew  York  he  joined 
the  Eev.  Dr.  Spring's  church.  The  first  twenty-five 
dollars  of  which  he  was  master  he  gave  to  a  poor  young 
man  who  was  preparing  for  the  ministry.  His  judg- 
ment, sense,  and  persistent  activity  gave  him  great 
power  and  brought  him  great  wealth.  But  in  the  midst 
of  a  most  extended  business  he  was  a  faithful  servant 
of  God.  He  once  said  :  "  I  enjoy  more  satisfaction  in 
one  prayer  than  in  all  the  treasures  of  corn  and  wine." 
All  that  he  had  was  the  Lord's.  He  left  by  will  more 
than  half  a  million  of  dollars  to  the  cause  of  benevo- 


MR.  ANSON  G.  PHELPS. 


161 


lence.  During  his  life  he  was  constantly  employed  in 
enterprises  useful  to  his  fellow-men.  He  was  actively 
engaged  in  temperance  and  revival  work.  He  estab- 
lished a  prayer-meeting  at  his  own  house,  No.  32  Cliff 
Street.  He  purchased  the  Universalist  Church  in  Prince 
Street.  There  he  placed  a  godly  minister  with  whom 
he  labored  for  souls.  In  my  young  days  I  first  met  him 
at  those  meetings.  But  the  special  point  now  before  us 
is  his  intense  devotion  to  the  spiritual  interests  of  his 
own  household.  The  supreme  aim  of  Mr.  Phelps  and 
his  godly  wife  was  the  early  conversion  of  their  chil- 
dren. His  prayers  and  instructions  at  the  family  altar 
were  very  direct  and  fervent.  The  weekly  prayer-meeting 
at  his  house  was  a  blessing  to  the  children.  So  was  the 
maternal  association  where  motliers  pleaded  God's  prom- 
ises for  their  children.  His  children  were  instructed 
and  urged  to  yield  themselves  at  once  to  Christ.  Mr. 
Phelps  had  great  confidence  in  the  covenant  of  God  for 
the  children  and  the  children's  children  (Ps.  ciii.  17). 
Thus  far  his  confidence  has  not  been  in  vain.  His  five 
daughters  and  his  only  son,  Anson  G.  Phelps,  Jr.,  all 
confessed  Christ  before  they  were  fourteen  years  old. 
Nearly  all  his  twenty-five  grandchildren,  and  most  of 
his  great-grandchildren  of  suitable  age,  are  in  the 
church.  Think  of  this  man  with  his  godly  compan- 
ion. Think  of  their  children  and  children's  children, 
with  their  Christian  companions,  professedly  enlisted  in 
the  cause  of  Christ.    Think  of  the  wealth,  talent,  and 


162  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

forces  consecrated  to  the  Lord.  Think  of  the  company 
that  will  gather  in  heaven.  But  for  that  revival  in- 
fluence this  orphan  boy  might  have  lived  and  died  a 
worldling ;  and  many  of  his  descendants  might  have 
followed  his  example.  But  now  we  see  Christian  agen- 
cies started  that  may  roll  on  with  accumulating  force 
until  they  reach  the  splendors  of  millennial  glory.  Chris- 
tian father  and  mother,  —  you  may  not  have  the  wealth 
and  opportunities  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps,  but  their  God 
is  your  helper.  And,  now,  can  you  do  a  safer,  happier, 
grander,  and  more  far-reaching  thing  than  to  say  from 
the  heart :  "  God  helping  me,  my  children  shall  now 
be  saved "  ?  Do  you  say  :  "  I  am  not  myself  a  Chris- 
tian "  ?  Will  you  lead  your  dear  children  down  the 
broad  way  of  death  ?  "  I  hope  sometime  to  be  a 
Christian."  But  while  you  delay,  the  bands  of  the  Ad- 
versary are  tightening  around  you  all.  Death  may 
come. 

THE  doctor's  mistake. 

In  my  parish  a  distinguished  physician  and  his  wife 
embraced  the  Saviour.  He  one  day  said  to  me  in  great 
anguish  :  "  Oh,  I  have  made  a  fatal  mistake  !  While  I 
deferred  religion,  my  precious  and  gifted  son  has  died  in 
his  sins.  My  dear  daughter  and  her  worldly  husband 
seem  to  be  utterly  beyond  my  influence."  He  went  to 
the  grave  a  sorrowing  man.  Said  another  father  of  a 
family  :  "  We  are  all  together  lost."   He  was  thoroughly 


m 

THE  YOUNG  SOLDIER.  163 

aroused,  and  he  never  rested  until  he  and  his  whole 
household  were  in  the  fold  of  Christ.  Like  him,  flee 
from  the  wrath  that  is  to  come ;  and  like  Noah,  take 
all  your  loved  ones  with  you  into  the  ark  of  safety. 
But  you  say  :  "  Can  I  save  them  ?  "  In  one  sense,  yes. 
Without  God's  Spirit,  no.  Gabriel  could  not  do  that. 
But  you  are  God's  instrument.  He  says  to  you : 
"  Others  save  with  fear,  pulling  them  out  of  the  fire " 
(Jude  V.  23).  God  waits  for  you  to  cherish  his  Spirit 
and  to  become  his  instrument  of  salvation.  Without 
his  Spirit  the  most  solemn  providences  fail  to  convert 
the  soul. 

THE  YOUNG  SOLDIER. 

In  one  of  our  earnest  Evangelistic  meetings  a 
young  man  arose  and  said :  "  In  one  of  our  fiercest 
battles  in  the  late  war  I  was  pressing  forward  with 
two  of  my  comrades,  when  we  were  all  shot  down  to- 
gether. I  was  shockingly  wounded,  while  they  lay 
dead  at  my  side.  When  carried  to  the  rear,  I  looked 
at  the  prospect  of  death,  thought  of  my  godly  mother, 
and  felt  that  I  ought  to  be  a  Christian.  But  this  was  a 
transient  impulse.  I  recovered  and  was  more  hardened 
than  ever.  But  here,  to-night,  in  this  quiet  meeting,  I 
think  I  have  given  myself  to  Jesus.  With  all  my  heart 
I  praise  him  for  this  precious  hour."  At  our  next  com- 
munion-season he  was  one  of  the  hundred  and  fifty -four 
persons  who  united  with  our  church.     By  the  aid  of 


164  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

God's  truth  and  Spirit  he  made  the  crisis  himself. 
Even  a  child  must  be  moved  and  melted  by  this  di- 
vine  influence.  But  this  fact  need  be  no  hindrance.  It 
is  an  infinite  favor.  For  yon  hear  God's  command :  "  Be 
filled  with  the  Spirit  "  (Eph.  v.  18).  And  then  you  have 
his  promise :  "  I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon  thy  seed  " 
(Isai.  xliv.  3).  You  must  trust  these  words  and  cherish 
this  divine  influence.  Common  talk  and  prayer  is  not 
likely  to  convert  the  child.  On  this  point  fatal  mistakes 
are  sometimes  made.  Your  heart  and  motive  must  be 
right  before  God.   You  must  believe  and  act. 


YII. 

THE  WORTH  OF  A  CHILD. 

You  must  realize  the  value  of  your  children.  Think 
of  a  child  forever  lost !  And  it  is  your  precious  child, 
flesh  of  your  flesh,  and  he  may  now  be  moved  by 
your  smile  or  frown.  It  is  the  loving  Jesus  who  has 
told  us  of  the  great  gulf  fixed.  At  any  moment,  while 
you  are  busy  here  and  there,  he  may  be  banished  from 
your  presence  forever.  Satan  cries  "To-morrow!"  God 
exclaims,  "  Now  is  the  accepted  time !  "  Were  he  dan- 
gerously ill  you  would  hasten  for  the  ablest  physician. 
You  would  not  see  him  die  for  all  the  gold  in  the 
bowels  of  the  earth.  Your  prayers  would  be,  "  0  God, 
take  all  that  I  have  and  spare  my  child."  If  you  saw 
him  drowning  you  would  risk  your  own  life  to  save 
him.  Were  he  sinking  into  the  bottomless  pit  you 
would  spend  a  thousand  years  of  agonized  effort  for 
his  rescue.  With  Esther  you  would  say,  "  How  can  I 
endure  to  see  the  destruction  of  my  kindred"  (Esther 
viii.  6).  Do  you  seek  for  him  wealth  and  fine  apparel 
and  select  society  ?  He  will  find  in  heaven  mines  of 
wealth,  streets  of  gold,  gorgeous  apparel,  and  princely 
companions.    The  King  of  glory  will  be  his  friend. 


166 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


His  present  salvation  must  now  be  to  you  the  one 
grand  object.  It  must  be  a  time  of  extremity  with 
you.  Isaac  was  not  saved  until  the  fatal  knife  was  in 
Abraham's  hand.  Jacob's  household  was  not  saved 
until  he  cried  to  God,  "  I  will  not  let  thee  go  except 
thou  bless  me"  (Gen.  xxxii.  26).  Trial  and  cost  are 
trifles.  Said  one  to  a  man  who  was  bringing  his  little 
boy  from  a  deep  well,  You  are  all  covered  with  blood." 
"Never  mind,"  said  the  father,  "I  have  saved  my  boy." 
A  father  in  Philadelphia  lost  his  boy.  The  citizens 
raised  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  be  expended  in  the 
search  for  him.  In  this  search  for  Charlie  Eoss  his 
father  has  spent  his  fortune  of  sixty  thousand  dollars, 
has  made  three  hundred  journeys,  and  has  investigated 
five  hundred  different  cases,  and  says,  "  I  shall  persevere 
until  my  boy  is  found  or  I  die."  Is  your  child  a  lost 
sinner  ?  He  may  spend  an  agonized  eternity  with 
fiends  and  outcasts.  What  have  you  done  for  his 
rescue  ?  His  deliverer  is  now  at  your  side.  Jesus 
came  to  seek  and  to  save  him.  He  loves  the  child. 
And  he  has  never  yet  turned  away  one  faithful,  trusting 
parent.  You  may  pray  and  you  may  earnestly  desire, 
but  you  may  not  seek  God's  glory  or  half  believe  his 
promises.  "  Heaven  might  become  a  wilderness  and  the 
universe  a  wreck,  were  God  to  deviate  one  iota  from  his 
word."  Trust,  trust  in  Jesus,  who  says  :  If  ye  abide 
in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye 
will  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you  "  (John  xv.  7).  He 


.   HOW  AND  WHEN  TO  BEGIN.  167 

said  to  the  father  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  son,  "  All  things 
are  possible  to  him  that  believeth  "  (Mark  ix.  23).  Jesus 
healed  him  through  the  father's  faith  and  effort.  You 
pray  and  work  for  your  daily  bread.  So  believe  and 
win  the  child  to  Jesus,  and  he  will  be  saved.  Show  the 
child  his  danger,  his  sin,  and  the  tender,  loving  Saviour, 
and  he  may  only  be  too  happy  to  rest  in  him.  He 
has  not  all  the  unbelief  and  difficulty  of  an  adult 
sinner. 

JUST  HOW  AND  AVHEN  TO  BEGIN. 

Seize  upon  favorable  times.  Woik  in  the  line  of 
God's  providence.  I  have  found  it  profitable  to  labor 
with  young  children  before  they  retire  at  night.  They 
may  then  be  quiet  and  tender.  Instead  of  blaming 
them  I  would  lovingly  ask  them  to  tell  me  how  they 
had  sinned  that  day.  In  this  way  their  disclosures 
were  often  minute  and  wonderful,  extending  to  angry 
words  and  feelings.  Then  I  would  say:  "God  is  here. 
Your  sin  is  againfet  him.  He  is  angry  with  the  wicked 
every  day.  And  here  is  the  precious,  loving  Jesus,  all 
ready  to  forgive  you."  Then  each  of  us  would  pray  a 
few  words,  telling  Jesus  the  sin  and  asking  him  to 
forgive  and  bless  and  save.  Several  other  and  older 
children  might  be  gathered  on  such  occasions.  Serious, 
tender  talks  with  children  are  very  essential. 


168 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


FLAGRANT  SINS. 

For  the  sin  of  lying  or  for  outbursts  of  temper  chil- 
dren should  be  seriously  punished.  The  Bible  ap- 
proves of  the  rod:  "He  that  spareth  his  rod  hateth 
his  son"  (Prov.  xiii.  24).  But  instead  of  wrath  and 
threats  they  should  be  punished  in  great  sadness  and 
love.  Then  show  the  child  how  God  hated  their  sin  by 
repeating,  e.  g.  (Rev.  xxi.  8) :  "All  liars  shall  have  their 
part  in  the  lake  which  burneth  with  fire  and  brim- 
stone, which  is  the  second  death."  Then  together  ask 
God's  pardon.  Many  a  child,  under  such  a  sense  of 
sin,  has  found  peace  with  his  Maker.  It  is  a  favorable 
time  for  the  conversion  of  children,  when  trouble,  sick- 
ness, or  death  enter  a  household. 

A  CHARMING  FAMILY  PRAYER. 

Family  prayer  is  a  most  helpful  duty.  Jeremiah  said 
to  God,  "  Pour  out  thy  fury  upon  ...  the  families  that 
call  not  on  thy  name  "  (Jer.  x.  25).  And  what  a  sweet, 
unspeakable  privilege  to  bow  together  and  breathe  forth 
the  prayer,  "  Our  Father  .  .  .  give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread."  This  is  a  good  time  to  win  the  soul  to  Christ. 
If  a  father,  through  absence  or  indifference,  fails  to  sup- 
port his  family,  the  mother  or  child  does  it  in  his  place. 
So  it  should  be  with  family  prayer.  Instead  of  a  bald, 
long  service,  with  a  whole  chapter  and  a  tedious  prayer 
which  children  dread  and  remember  with  disgust,  make 


A  CHAR3IING  FAMILY  PRAYER.  169 

it  brief  and  attractive.  I  know  a  pastor  who  goes  from 
the  breakfast  table  to  the  piano.  His  three  boys  join 
the  parents  in  a  cheerful  song  of  praise,  children  lisp- 
ing hosannas  to  the  Son  of  David.  Those  boys  are 
learning  music.  If  possible,  there  should  always  be 
singing.  It  is  Scriptural.  It  moves  the  sonl,  it  kindles 
the  fires  of  grateful  love  and  heartfelt  praise ;  and  here 
I  might  stop  to  say:  Train  the  children  in  music.  If 
convenient,  teach  them,  when  young  and  idle,  to  play 
the  piano  or  organ.  It  will  help  to  soothe  the  passions, 
check  disputes,  unite  the  household,  and  occupy  the 
mind  that  might  be  drawn  to  ridnous  pursuits.  Such 
children  will  be  likely  to  enter  heartily  into  the  song  of 
the  sanctuary,  the  Sabbath-school,  the  prayer-meeting, 
and  the  household  service. 

At  this  family  altar  much  instruction  may  be  given. 
This  course  has  been  pursued  with  profit.  On  opening 
the  Bible  the  father  says  :  "  Children,  —  what  did  we 
read  yesterday  ?  To-day  we  will  read  this  portion." 
Then  each  one  reads  a  verse,  and  each  one  repeats 
a  text.  The  little  one  says  a  short  passage  after  the 
parent.  Then  follows  a  short  request  that  each  child 
should  now  commit  himself  to  God.  Then,  with  no 
formal  words  and  with  no  thought  of  drudgery,  let  the 
parent  plead  for  each  of  his  tempted,  dying  children. 
In  some  cases  the  name  of  the  child  may  be  called. 
Then  the  Lord's  Prayer  is  repeated  by  all  together. 
Then  a  sweet  family  kiss  all  around.     Oh,  what  a 


170  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

precious  opportunity  in  this  melting,  fervent  service  to 
win  the  soul  to  Jesus.  Ten  children  in  one  family 
were  born  again.  Said  one  of  them,  "  My  father's 
wrestling  prayer  led  me  to  the  Saviour." 

VARIOUS  MEANS  FOR  THE  CONVERSION  OF  CHILDREN. 

Children  should  attend  church.  How  inspiring  to  the 
pastor  to  see  parents  and  children  gathered  in  the  pews. 
And  yet  it  is  pitiful  to  see  children  uncomfortable  and 
restless.  In  all  our  feasts  children  have  some  portion. 
And  they  should  have  a  portion  of  the  spiritual  food. 
"  Feed  my  lambs  "  (John  xxi.  15).  How  God  loved 
and  valued  and  spoke  to  the  boy  Samuel !  In  one  of 
the  services  at  least,  every  pastor  should  address  to 
the  children  some  striking  illustration  or  some  earnest 
words  of  application.  This  will  interest  them  and 
gratify  and  stimulate  the  parents.  In  this  way  many 
children  may  be  drawn  to  you,  to  the  sanctuary,  and 
to  Christ,  while  you  are  struggling  in  vain  to  reach 
some  hardened  sinner.  Children,  ten  or  twelve  years 
old,  should  attend  the  prayer -meeting.  There  should 
always  be  some  word  and  prayer  for  them.  Parents 
with  a  burdened  heart  may  crave  the  prayers  of  the 
church  for  their  offspring.  Is  it  objected,  that  "the 
children  retire  early  ? "  But  could  they  not  attend 
a  children's  party  ?  —  "  But  they  have  their  evening 
lessons  to  learn."  Could  they  not  give  to  them  a 
little  extra  study  ?    If  not,  is  the  intellect  more  pre- 


THE  COLLEGE  BOY. 


171 


cious  than  the  soul  ?  Is  eternal  salvation  less  than  re- 
spectability ?  What  children  are  is  more  important  than 
what  they  know.  And  knowledge  is  valued  more  by 
them  as  they  become  the  children  of  Jesus.  There  is 
time  yet  for  the  culture  of  the  mind,  while  at  any  mo- 
ment the  soul  may  perish  forever.  At  the  meetings 
they  will  gather  knowledge  and  they  may  be  saved.  I 
scarcely  remember  a  family  whose  members  were  not 
led  to  the  Saviour  if  they  were  constant  at  the  prayer- 
meeting.  Their  presence  moves  the  church.  But,  you 
say,  "they  are  in  a  very  favorable  condition."  All  signs 
of  children  out  of  Christ  may  be  very  deceptive  and 
very  hazardous. 

THE  COLLEGE  BOY. 

Parents  should  never  neglect  a  season  of  religious 
quickening.  This  is  a  most  precious  and  responsible 
time.  A  wealthy  Christian  lady  said  to  me  in  her 
dying  hours:  "  I  have  made  a  great  mistake.  My  only 
son  was  in  college.  When  his  companions  here  were 
turning  to  the  Lord  you  begged  me  to  bring  him  home 
for  a  season.  This  I  declined  to  do.  Now  I  leave  him  a 
hardened  sinner."  He  soon  after  died  a  sot.  He  would 
have  come  home  to  a  family  wedding  or  to  a  family 
funeral ;  but  his  position  in  college  had  seemed  to  be 
more  essential  than  his  standing  with  God. 

A  dear  Christian  friend  of  mine  was  always  watch- 
ing for  favorable  seasons.   Many  a  revival  began  in  his 


"    172  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

own  breast.  At  any  signs  of  special  interest  his  heart- 
cry  was,  "  This  is  the  time  for  which  I  have  prayed  and 
wept  and  toiled."  Then  the  great  passion  and  business 
of  his  soul  was  the  saving  of  his  eleven  children.  They 
were  all  brought  into  the  church.  Several  of  them  are 
to-day  preachers  of  the  gospel. 

YOU  MAY  SEEK  FOR  YOUR  CHILDREN"  THE  BENEFITS  OF 
THE  DIVINE  INFLUENCE  IN  OTHER  CHURCHES. 

I  once  saw  a  wealthy,  conservative,  Presbyterian  gen- 
tleman of  this  city  seated  in  an  inquiry-meeting  with 
his  two  young  sons.  It  was  not  a  Presbyterian  church. 
But  those  sons  there  found  Jesus,  and  soon  after  united 
w^ith  the  church  in  which  their  father  was  an  officer. 
Nobody  will  care  in  heaven  where  they  found  the 
Saviour.  Daily  or  nightly  services  for  the  children 
have  often  led  many  precious  ones  to  the  Saviour. 

THE  BRAVE  SON, 

Some  parents  have  one  child  at  least  who  is  wander- 
ing upon  the  dark  mountains  of  sin  and  death.  Noah 
did  not  leave  one  child  out  of  the  ark,  and  not  one  child 
of  yours  must  be  left  out  of  heaven.  In  a  season  of 
religious  interest,  a  father,  mother,  two  young  sons,  with 
a  daughter  and  her  husband,  united  with  our  church. 
The  eldest  son  had  returned  from  the  war  a  brave 
young  soldier.  When  approached  upon  the  subject  of 
religion  he  would  gleefully  say  :  "  I  am  all  right.   I  have 


HOW  TO  REACH  FAMILIES. 


173 


no  fear.  I  have  been  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight.  I 
have  looked  death  in  the  face  without  flinching." 
"  Well,"  I  said,  "  do  you  fear  to  attend  a  prayer-meet- 
iug  ?  "  No." — "  Will  you  come  to-night  ? "  He  came. 
The  Spirit  was  there.  There  were  true  prayer  and  earn- 
est, burning  words.  The  preaching  on  the  Sabbath  was 
to  him.  Toward  evening  a  member  of  the  family  called 
and  said,  "  John  pretends  to  be  sick,  but  we  believe 
that  he  is  anxious  for  his  soul."  I  saw  him  a  moment. 
He  was  at  church  in  the  evening,  and  at  our  next 
prayer-meeting.  At  the  close  of  that  meeting  I  took 
the  arm  of  a  good  brother  and  said,  "  Please  go  with  me." 
The  family  were  all  at  home.  All  but  John  were  earnest 
Christiaus.  He  resisted.  We  pleaded  with  him.  We 
pressed  the  matter  of  yielding  now.  We  bowed  in 
prayer  for  him.  Then  and  there  he  surrendered  and 
became  a  new  man  in  Christ.  And  there  was  great  joy 
in  that  household.  The  angels  also  praised  the  Lord. 
That  young  man,  who  had  faced  the  cannon's  mouth, 
became  a  fearless,  original,  outspoken  soldier  of  the  cross, 
in  the  home,  the  street,  and  the  prayer-room. 

HOW  TO  REACH  FAMILIES.     THE  GREAT  SINNER. 

In  times  of  special  religious  interest  it  is  often  well 
to  labor  for  different  classes  of  people.  At  one  such 
time  in  our  church  many  parents  were  converted  and 
much  interest  was  felt  for  their  families.  During 
a  series  of  meetings  I  one  day  requested  that,  on 


174 


RFVTVALS:  BOW  AND  WHEN? 


the  morrow  each  family  would  sit  by  itself  at  our 
afternoon  prayer-meeting.  The  chapel  was  crowded. 
It  was  a  perfectly  quiet,  familiar,  solemn  meeting.  My 
own  family  were  in  a  front  seat.  I  very  soon  asked 
the  prayers  of  God's  people  for  them.  I  then  said,  "Are 
there  any  other  requests  from  parents  ?  "  Instantly  an 
aged,  widowed  mother  in  Israel  arose  and  said  with 
deep  emotion,  "  Pray  for  my  son  that  he  may  be  con- 
verted now."  This  son  was  more  than  forty  years  old. 
Though  a  man  of  ability,  he  was  decidedly  irreligious. 
He  was  one  of  the  last  persons  in  the  congregation 
whose  conversion  would  be  anticipated.  I  immediately 
said  :  "  I  am  glad  to  see  that  son  present.  Does  he  join 
in  his  dear  mother's  request  ? "  He  arose  and,  bowing 
respectfully,  he  said,  "  I  do,  sir."  And  so  the  meeting 
proceeded. 

I  have  rarely  seen  a  season  of  such  spiritual  power. 
That  17th  of  March  will  never  be  forgotten.  One  of  my 
own  sons  found  peace  that  day.  Parents  were  plead- 
ing with  God  for  their  perishing  children.  No  gold- 
board  was  ever  so  intense  as  were  those  quiet  parents. 
And  no  one  can  describe  the  after  joy  of  many  a  house- 
hold. In  the  very  numerous  accessions  to  the  church 
there  was  an  unprecedented  projDortion  of  parents  and 
children.  At  the  close  of  that  afternoon  meeting,  while 
speaking  to  the  son  of  that  widowed  mother,  he  said  to 
me  :  "  Go,  talk  to  the  young.  There  is  no  hope  for  me. 
I  am  too  great  a  sinner."    In  the  evening,  as  the  ser- 


REMARKABLE  CONVERSIONS.  175 

mon  in  the  sanctuary  closed,  he  came  forward  and 
looking  toward  the  pulpit  he  said  to  me,  "  May  I  say 
a  word,  sir?"  "Yes,  sir."  Turning  to  the  congrega- 
tion he  said :  "  You  all  know  what  a  sinner  I  have  been. 
I  want  to  tell  you  that  there  is  mercy  with  God  even 
for  me."  Turning  to  me  again  he  said,  "  May  I  pray, 
sir  ? "  "  Yes,  sir."  After  a  most  humble  prayer  he 
went  to  his  pew  and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands,  while 
that  mother  was  crying  in  her  heart  with  Simeon  of 
old  :  "  Now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  .  .  . 
for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation."  (Luke  ii.  29). 
This  was  a  thrilling  scene  to  which  we  were  unaccus- 
tomed. We  have  just  heard  of  a  more  remarkable 
conversion. 

M.  EEVEILLAUD. 

That  able  writer  and  splendid  orator,  M.  Eeveillaud  of 
Paris,  was  expected  to  be  a  Romish  priest.  He  escaped 
the  premises  at  night.  He  finally  became  a  Protest- 
ant, and  by  the  power  of  God's  truth  and  spirit  was 
suddenly  converted  to  Christ.  On  the  evening  after 
this  new  birth,  at  the  close  of  a  sermon  on  the  death 
of  Stephen,  M.  Eeveillaud  stepped  forward  and  said, 
"  Would  you  allow  me  to  bear  witness  to  the  Holy 
Ghost  ? "  France  and  the  .Christian  world  are  being 
electrified  by  the  account  of  this  seemingly  miraculous 
transformation  into  the  image  of  Christ.  They  now 
call  him,  at  home,  the  St.  Paul  of  France.    In  this 


176 


EEVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


country  he  has  received  a  very  hearty  welcome,  and  in 
his  own  beloved  France  his  zealQus  effort  for  souls  is 
greatly  blessed. 

GODLY  CHILDREN  SHOULD  BE  IN  THE  CHURCH. 

Such  children  at  the  age  of  ten  or  twelve  years 
should  be  gathered  with  the  children  of  God.  And 
this,  not  because  they  are  serious  or  impressible  or  well 
instructed  or  well  behaved.  They  must  feel  their  sins. 
They  must  see  the  loving  Saviour  and  give  themselves 
to  liim.  They  must  be  converted  to  Christ.  After 
prolonged  evidence  and  proper  instruction  they  should 
be  welcomed  to  the  table  of  the  Lord.  It  is  cruel  to 
keep  them  out  of  the  church. 

THE  YOUNG  OFFICER. 

A  wealthy  young  man  who  taught  a  Bible-class  in 
my  church  was  offered  a  professorship  in  a  leading 
college.  He  preferred  to  fight  for  his  country.  He 
was  a  brilliant  officer.  He  talked  and  prayed  with  his 
soldiers.  While  leading  his  force  to  battle  he  was  shot 
dead  upon  his  horse.  He  was  brought  to  this  city  for 
burial.  His  widowed  mother  was  a  noble  woman.  I 
saw  her  hanging  over  his  remains.  She  did  not  say, 
"  Why  did  I  let  you  go  ? "  but  she  did  say  in  that 
agonizing  farewell :  "  I  have  wronged  him.  I  have 
wronged  him.  When  he  was  ten  years  old  he  was 
hopefully  converted.    He  wanted  to  join  the  church. 


DR.  HILL'S  YOUNG  CHILDREN. 


177 


But  I  said  to  him,  '  You  are  too  young,'  and  so  he  was 
always  under  a  cloud  and  often  shrinking  from  open 
religious  duties." 

DR.  hill's  young  CHILDEEN. 

Eev.  Mr.  Tackier  of  Texas  writes :  "  I  have  had  four 
most  interesting  services  for  children.  After  one  ser- 
vice a  little  boy,  son  of  the  Eev.  W.  W.  Hill,  D.  D., 
took  my  hand,  and,  looking  up  in  my  face,  he  said,  '  I 
would  like  so  much  to  join  the  church  if  you  will  let 
me.'  Deeply  moved  by  his  tears  and  earnestness  I 
drew  him  to  me  and  said,  '  Why  do  you  wish  to  join 
the  church  ? '  '  I  want  to  be  known  as  a  child  of  God.' 
— '  How  old  are  you  ? '  '  Seven  years  old  to-day.' — '  Why 
do  you  think  you  are  a  Christian  ? '  '  Because  I  love 
Jesus  with  all  my  heart,  and  he  loves  me  and  died  for 
me.'  Then  Christ's  words  came  to  me :  '  And  who  so 
shall  receive  one  such  little  child  in  my  name,  receiveth 
me '  (Matt,  xviii.  5).  But  I  said,  '  Might  you  not  do 
something  to  injure  the  cause  of  Christ  V  'I  could  not 
do  right  by  myself,  but  I  could  if  the  Lord  helped  me ; 
and  he  says  he  will  if  I  ask  him.'  Amid  the  tearful 
emotions  of  strong  men  he  was  received.  Every  mem- 
ber of  session  took  his  little  hand  with  a  fervent  '  God 
bless  the  boy.'  "  Five  of  Dr.  Hill's  children  under  the 
age  of  ten  years  are  now  members  of  the  church.  Let 
us  bring  such  children  to  the  Lord's  table,  especially  if 
they  are  the  children  of  godly  parents,  who  can  give 


178 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


them  watchful  care  and  sound  instruction.  I  have 
known  a  large  number  of  such  children  in  the  church; 
and  I  can  say,  with  other  pastors,  I  have  never  seen 
one  of  them  disciplined.  The  fold  of  Christ  is  for  the 
lambs,  the  little  ones.  The  tender  Shepherd  does  not 
shut  the  door  upon  them,  and  thrust  them  away  to 
wander  upon  the  cold  mountains.  He  shall  gather 
the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his  bosom 
(Isai.  xl.  11).  Bring  the  lambs  into  the  Christian  fold, 
and  trust  them  with  the  loving  Shepherd. 

GODLY  CHILDREN  NEED  CONSTANT  AND  LOVING 
INSTRUCTION. 

God  said  to  his  people :  "  These  words,  which  I  com- 
mand thee  this  day,  shall  be  in  thi7ie  heart ;  and  thou 
shalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children,  and  shall 
talk  of  them  when  thou  sittest  in  thine  house  and  when 
thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when  thou  liest  down  and 
when  thou  risest  up  "  (Deut.  vi.  7).  This  instruction  was 
to  come  from  the  heart.  Children  must  understand  doc- 
trine and  duty.  They  must  be  shown  how  God  requires 
them  to  influence  others  by  their  conversation  and  ex- 
ample. While  young  they  must  be  trained  in  Christian 
work.  Idleness  and  ignorance  spoil  them.  I  have 
known  young  children  who  were  very  active.  They  talked 
with  others.  They  led  them  to  the  Sunday-school  and 
the  prayer-meeting  and  were  thus  instruments  of  their 
salvation.    I  have  known  boys  who  would  sometimes 


CHILDREN  TRAINED  FOR  PULPIT.  179 


speak  a  word  and  offer  a  short,  feeling  petition  in  the 
prayer-meeting.  In  a  few  years  they  became  earnest, 
ef&cient  workers  in  the  Lord's  vineyard.  In  a  sensible 
way  they  were  trained  to  the  sacred  work ;  and  no  train- 
ing is  more  essential. 

CHILDREN  MAY  BE  TRAINED  FOR  THE  PULPIT. 

The  world  is  perishing.  It  sadly  needs  an  influx  of 
wise  and  consecrated  ministers.  Here  is  a  boy  who 
loves  Jesus.  He  has  a  good  mind.  What  is  his  duty  ? 
The  parent  says :  "  He  has  no  courage  or  taste  for  the 
ministry."  But  he  may  not  know  what  the  ministry  is. 
The  boy  must  be  told  that  he  is  to  make  the  most  of 
himself  for  the  cause  of  Christ ;  that  a  minister  who 
gives  his  whole  time,  talent,  and  heart  to  this  work  is  a 
good  and  happy  man ;  that  he  may  win  hundreds  and 
even  thousands  of  souls  from  sin  and  destruction  to 
Christian  work  and  eternal  glory.  This  is  a  subject  for 
solemn  thought  and  devout  prayer.  Parents  may  give 
their  young  sons  to  Jesus  and  devote  them  to  his  min- 
istry. They  may  strive  for  their  conversion  with  this 
idea.  Nobody  can  describe  the  force  of  loving  instruc- 
tion in  early  childhood.  You  may  give  that  dear  boy  to 
Jesus  ;  then  plead  with  God  to  make  him  a  minister 
of  salvation  to  thousands. 


180 


REVIVALS: 


HOW  AXn  WHEN* 


JOHX  HOWARD  AND  THE  LITTLE  BOY. 

I  have  seen  a  beautiful  picture  of  a  mother  and  her 
little  son  viewing  the  statue  of  John  Howard,  the  great 
philanthropist,  in  St.  Paul's,  London.  Under  the  guid- 
ance of  his  godly  father  he  copied  fading  inscriptions 
on  the  tombstones  of  Bunyan  and  Watts.  He  was  in- 
structed in  the  family,  the  church,  and  the  religious 
meeting.  He  was  converted  in  his  youth.  He  became 
the  famous  Bev.  Dr.  Andrew  Rml  of  London.  Through 
untold  difficulties  he  helped  to  found  six  asylums  about 
London.  Before  his  death  there  were  contributed  to 
these  institutions  over  five  millions  of  dollars.  He  had 
the  sympathy  and  help  of  lords,  princes,  and  royalty. 
"With  great  success  and  with  great  revivals  he  preached 
the  gospel  in  London  more  than  fifty  years.  Seventeen 
years  before  the  end  of  his  ministry  he  was  tlianking 
God  that  he  had  been  permitted  to  welcome  to  his 
church  about  twenty-five  hundred  souls.  Twenty-two 
hundred  of  these  were  from  the  world.  All  the  mem- 
bers of  his  own  and  his  father's  family  were  commu- 
nicants. 

One  of  this  noted  family  was  Sir  Charles  Eeed,  mem- 
ber of  Parliament  and  chairman  of  the  School  Board  of 
London,  and  the  eloquent  advocate  of  Sabbath -schools 
and  revivals  of  religion.  What  a  record  for  the  little 
boy  by  his  mother's  side,  pointing  up  to  the  statue  of 
John  Howard.    And  what  a  pity  and  what  a  loss  had 


HOWARD  AND  DR.  REED.  181 

he  pursued  some  ordinary  business.  He  set  in  motion 
surges  of  blessing  that  will  affect  the  temporal  or  eternal 
well-being  of  millions  of  God's  creatures.  If  you  lay 
your  son  upon  God's  altar,  and  consecrate  him  wholly 
to  his  service,  will  he  not  be  accepted  ?  God  in  his 
providence  may  lead  him  to  be  a  messenger  of  salvation 
to  perishing  thousands. 


VIII. 


BIBLE-CLASS  AND  SABBATH-SCHOOL  REVIVALS. 

The  Bible-class  is  a  potent  means  of  usefulness.  In 
a  vast  number  of  cases  revivals  commence  in  its  cir- 
cle. The  circumstances  of  the  class  wonderfully  favor 
'this  object.  I  once  suggested  the  matter  of  forming  a 
Bible-class  for  our  young  men  to  Mr.  Malon  T.  Hewitt, 
one  of  our  elders.  In  a  written  reply  he  expressed  his 
conviction  of  the  vast  importance  of  such  classes  to 
the  young  and  the  old,  and  that  such  a  class  was 
especially  desirable  for  all  those  who  had  outgrown  the 
Sabbath-school  and  were  liable  to  wander  and  perish. 
Instead  of  forming  a  class  he  proposed  that  two  or  more 
young  men  should  consult  their  companions,  give  pub- 
lic notice  of  a  meeting,  organize  the  class,  and  then 
elect  their  leader.  This  was  done  and  he  was  their 
chosen  instructor.  It  was  a  large,  enthusiastic,  and  most 
useful  class,  and  its  members  were  among  the  sadly- 
stricken  mourners  at  the  untimely  death  of  their  be- 
loved teacher.  The  Bible-class  may  give  the  exact 
meaning  of  Scripture.  It  may  also  rouse  the  intellect 
and  move  the  heart.  It  is  a  prodigious  force  in  the 
hands  of  a  faithful  teacher.    He  may  secure  the  love 


BIBLE-CLASS  REVIVALS. 


183 


and  trust  of  the  class.  Eesting  on  God  he  may,  with 
a  settled  purpose  and  a  wise  method,  lead  them  to 
Christ. 

I  have  learned  from  a  leading  elder  in  the  church  of 
Dr.  E.  E.  Booth,  University  Place,  New  York,  how  he 
gathered  and  conducted  a  Bible-class  of  young  men  and 
how  he  secured  to  them  an  infinite  blessing.  He  says  : 
"  The  pastor  gave  notice  that  such  a  class  would  be 
formed  in  a  certain  portion  of  the  church.  Six  or  seven 
young  men  appeared.  Some  of  these  were  young  per- 
sons who  were  going  out  into  the  world  from  the  Sab- 
bath-school. In  this  way  they  were  tided  over  from 
the  Sabbath-school  to  the  church.  The  young  men 
brought  in  their  companions.  Others  were  introduced 
by  the  congregation,  until  the  class  numbered  thirty 
persons.  This  number  was  kept  good  by  the  members 
of  the  class.  We  took  up  different  portions  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments.  I  did  not  always  question  the 
class.  I  sometimes  did  it  to  secure  attention.  I  pre- 
pared myself  carefully  upon  tlie  lesson.  I  explained 
the  meaning,  made  the  best  points  I  could,  and  often 
pressed  home  to  their  consciences  the  practical  bearing 
of  the  word. 

"  Knowing  the  character  of  each  j'oung  man,  I  could 
often  speak  to  them  together  of  matters  which  ad- 
dressed to  one  person  alone  might  give  offence.  This 
was  especially  the  case  where  one  was  beginning  to  go 
astray.    I  was  deeply  interested  in  the  young  men,  and 


184 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


in  various  ways  I  exhibited  my  fondness  for  them.  On 
onr  return  from  the  summer  dispersion  I  invited  them 
to  my  house.  We  had  a  social  evening,  with  simple  re- 
freshments. I  encouraged  them  to  call  at  my  house,  or 
at  my  place  of  business,  to  seek  counsel  about  their  pri- 
vate affairs.  The  religious  interest  of  the  class  depended 
somewhat  on  the  state  of  feeling  in  the  church. 

"  Early  in  the  winter  I  invited  a  single  young  man  to 
my  house.  There  I  talked  and  prayed  with  him,  some- 
times for  hours.  One  winter  I  saw  at  my  house  more 
than  twenty  young  men  alone.  Here  I  could  kindly  re- 
move their  objections  and  press  the  weightiest  motives. 
I  was  always  pushing  them  to  the  point  and  closing 
with  the  appeal,  '  Will  you  now  come  to  Christ  ? ' 
Thus  many  of  them  found  the  Saviour.  One  young 
man  came  to  me  a  skeptic.  After  a  long  interview 
he  said,  '  I  will  decide  this  matter  alone.'  He  walked 
the  streets  until  midnight.  There,  under  the  open  heav- 
ens, he  found  Jesus,  and  the  next  morning  he  came  forth 
with  his  face  shining  with  gladness.  Two  brothers  were 
at  my  house  the  same  evening,  one  in  the  front  the 
other  in  the  back  parlor.  Neither  suspected  that  the 
other  was  there.  They  were  both  converted.  One  is 
preparing  for  the  ministry;  the  other  superintends  a 
mission  Sabbath-school. 

"Thus  in  one  year  twenty  of  my  class  w^ere  converted. 
Twelve  of  them  joined  the  church  at  one  time.  The 
whole  class  of  thirty  members  were  hopeful  Christians. 


MR.  BOOTH'S  BIBLE  CLASS. 


185 


I  always  urged  these  young  Christians  to  take  part  in 
the  prayer-meetings  and  to  strive  for  the  salvation  of 
others.  During  the  spring  I  carried  the  class  through  a 
course  of  doctrinal  instruction.  I  strove  to  make  them 
intelligent  and  useful  Christians.  Some  of  these  con- 
verts entered  the  class  with  the  prospect  of  being 
wrecks  for  time  and  eternity.  The  change  in  their 
character  and  prospects  is  marvellous  indeed."  Here 
is  a  noble  triumph  of  divine  grace.  The  value  of 
such  Bible-class  revivals  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the 
untold  power  of  this  portion  of  the  community.  Thirty 
young  men  transformed,  enlightened,  and  set  to  work 
for  Christ !  What  may  they  not  do  for  the  rising 
generation  ? 

At  one  time,  fifty-three  persons  from  a  single  Bible- 
class  in  Philadelphia  joined  the  church. 

MR.  WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH's  BIBLE-CLASS. 

Mr.  William  A.  Booth,  whose  energy  and  resources 
have  been  so  liberally  devoted  to  the  cause  of  Christ  in 
this  city,  has  for  many  years  been  the  teacher  of  a 
Bible-class.  He  has  said  to  me :  "  I  have  had  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  young  ladies  in  my  classes.  I  always 
prepared  myself  fully  with  everything  I  could  find  of 
interest  about  the  lesson.  When  proper,  I  would  make 
a  personal  application  of  the  truth.  I  visited  each  of 
the  members  at  their  homes.  I  did  not  press  the  sub- 
ject of  religion  offensively.  For  many  years  nearly  all 
my  pupils  became  followers  of  Christ." 


186  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

In  a  recent  visit  to  his  country-house  he  said  to  me : 
"  I  have  a  Bible-class  out  here.  The  last  member  of  it 
has  just  united  with  the  church.  I  find  several  things 
essential  to  true  success,  —  full  preparation,  prayer  to 
God,  visits  to  the  members  of  the  class  at  their  homes, 
and  the  pressure  of  these  thoughts :  '  You  are  the  per- 
son concerned.  It  is  your  imminent  danger  and  fearful 
sin  against  a  holy  God,  and  it  is  your  Saviour,  full  of 
love  and  compassion,  that  now  waits  to  give  you  pardon 
and  eternal  life.  Will  you  now  love  and  trust  him  ?  ' 
I  then  close  the  interview  with  the  question,  '  Shall  we 
now  kneel  in  prayer  and  commit  our  all  to  him.'  Thus 
they  entered  the  fold  of  Christ." 

What  transcendent  blessings  are  within  the  reach  of 
the  Bible-class  teacher.  Let  your  soul  be  flooded  with 
divine  influence.  Let  your  duties  be  performed  with 
new  courage  and  confidence  in  God.  And  let  no  Chris- 
tian fail  to  become  a  Bible-class  teacher  if,  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  he  can  make  himself  useful  in  this  field 
of  Christian  endeavor. 

SABBATH-SCHOOL  REVIVALS. 

As  much  is  being  said  and  done  for  Sabbath-schools 
I  need  only  treat  the  matter  briefly.  Sabbath-schools, 
Bible-classes,  and  households  are  just  the  places  for  re- 
vivals. The  instructor  comes  into  direct  contact  with 
his  pupils.  He  may  gain  their  confidence  and  love.  He 
may  move  their  hearts  and  enlighten  their  minds  with 


SABBA TH-SCHO OL  RE  VIVALS. 


187 


simple  truth.  The  Sabbath-school  requires  no  great  ex- 
pense and  no  elaborate  methods.  It  has  enlisted  in  its 
service  talent,  prayer,  love,  and  toil.  It  has  raised  up 
for  the  school  a  host  of  teachers  and  officers.  Its  numer- 
ous revivals  have  brought  to  Jesus  untold  thousands.  It 
has  been  the  birthplace  of  countless  ministers  and  the 
foundation  of  many  churches.  On  entering  a  Sabbath- 
school  it  is  wise  for  a  teacher  to  collect  or  to  enlarge  his 
own  class  and  to  keep  it  constantly  full.  In  this  way 
you  may,  by  your  sympathy  and  love,  interest  the  par- 
ents and  bring  them  to  the  sanctuary.  I  have  known 
a  committee  of  teachers  who  visited  every  family  in 
the  neighborhood.  Tliey  brought  sixty  scholars  to  the 
school  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  to  the  church. 
The  scholars  can  do  wonders.  At  one  time  our  superin- 
tendent interested  the  children  in  this  work.  And  I  re- 
member one  little  girl,  from  a  Sabbath-breaking  family, 
who  in  a  short  time  brought  into  the  school  twenty-one 
children. 

In  this  work  the  pastor  has  responsibilities.  Dr.  Her- 
rick  Johnson  of  Chicago  has  said,  in  a  public  address  : 
"  Where  the  lam  bs  are  gathered  the  pastor  has  rights 
and  duties.  He  must  know  that  good  books  are  read, 
and  that  the  true  doctrines  of  salvation  are  taught.  He 
must  have  a  spiritual  oversight.  The  Sunday-school  is 
his.''  Without  question,  the  pastor  and  superintendent 
should  always  co-operate  together.  The  pastor  of  a 
small  church  has  said  to  me  :  "  For  two  years  I  entered 


188  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

my  Sunday-school.  Beiug  utterly  ignored  by  my  super- 
intendent, I  would  sit  down  near  the  door  by  a  class 
of  little  ones.  I  was  never  asked  to  speak.  I  did  not 
reprove  him,  but  I  finally  gathered  some  of  the  older 
scholars  to  a  very  familiar,  earnest  prayer-meeting  on 
AYednesday  evenings,  at  a  private  house.  There  I 
gained  their  love  and  won  them  to  the  Saviour."  Dr. 
Johnson  said  in  his  address  :  "  Pastors  should  preach  to 
children.  It  is  simply  monstrous  that  whole  years 
should  pass  without  an  address  to  the  young.  Jesus 
said  to  Simon  Peter,  '  Feed  my  lambs '  (John  xxi.  15). 
For  this  service  the  teacher  should  make  thorough  pre- 
paration." Dr.  Tyng,  Sr.,  and  other  pastors  have  led 
hundreds  of  children  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

It  is  a  melancholy  thought  that  so  few  of  the  children 
have  any  interest  in  the  sanctuary.  How  sad  to  miss 
the  well  filled  family  pew.  While  the  Sabbath  calls 
the  people,  it  tolls  the  children  away  from  the  house 
of  the  Lord.  They  are  parted  from  their  best  friends. 
They  are  left  to  do  as  they  list.  They  have  few  associa- 
tions with  the  church  and  no  attractions  to  it.  And 
thus  crowds  of  them  leave  the  school  and  the  sanctuary, 
to  wander  and  perish.  This  must  be  remedied.  They 
must  be  attracted  to  the  house  of  the  Lord. 

CHILDREN  MUST  BE  ADDRESSED  FROM  THE  PULPIT. 

At  the  Philadelphia  Council,  in  1880,  Dr.  Alexander 
McLeod  insisted  "that  the  regular  Sabbath  services 


THE  CHILDREN  AND  THE  PULPIT.  189 

should  be  shortened  and  that  brief  addresses  should  be 
made  to  the  young  people.  For  subjects  he  recom- 
mended incidents  from  the  Old  and  ]^ew  Testaments,  and 
those  most  thrilling  stories  of  Jesus  in  the  manger,  the 
stable,  the  temple,  the  mount,  the  garden,  his  miracles, 
and  his  crucifixion.  He  also  recommended  incidents 
and  illustrations  from  God's  outside  Bible.  He  stated 
that  many  pastors  in  England  and  Scotland  were  pur- 
suing this  method,  and  were  thus,  like  Jesus,  speaking 
to  the  people  in  parables." 

In  our  Allen  Street  Church  we  had  at  one  time,  in 
parish  and  Mission  Sunday-schools,  the  names  of  more 
than  fourteen  hundred  teachers  and  scholars.  How 
could  a  pastor  ignore  this  crowd  of  souls  ?  In  connec- 
tion with  my  Sabbath-morning  sermon  I  endeavored, 
in  a  fresh  and  tender  way,  to  present  some  inference, 
illustration,  or  appeal  directly  to  the  young  people. 
The  moment  I  said,  "My  dear  children,"  the  whole 
congregation  seemed  to  be  aroused  to  fresh  interest. 
The  closing  hymn  and  tune,  familiar  to  the  children, 
heightened  the  attraction.  An  objector  to  this  course 
might  be  told  that  it  was  the  bigoted  chief-priests  who 
would  silence  the  children  who  were  crying  in  the 
temple,  "  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David."  Some  pastors 
have  an  afternoon  service  for  the  children.  But  these 
measures  are  preparatory. 


190 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


HOW  TO  HAVE  SABBATH-SCHOOL  REVIVALS. 

You  must  let  the  children  see  that  you  love  them 
and  that  you  prize  their  souls.  A  kiss  or  a  tear  has, 
under  God,  made  many  a  Christian.  Said  a  man  of 
God,  "  A  mother's  tear,  dropped  upon  my  cheek,  made 
me  a  Christian  and  a  missionary."  Invite  them  to 
your  house.  Be  easy  and  familiar  with  them.  Let 
them  have  a  good  social  time.  Paul  was  a  man  when 
he  put  away  childish  things.  Give  them  some  enter- 
tainment. AVhen  they  respect  and  love  you  they  are 
in  your  power.  You  must  see  that  God  is  waiting  to 
give  you  this  blessing.  Humble  yourself  before  him  in 
view  of  your  unbelief  and  inaction.  "  A  broken  and  a 
contrite  heart,  0  God,  thou  wilt  not  despise."  Plead 
with  him  for  help.  Do  not  say  in  your  heart  "  I  wish," 
"  I  ought,"  "I  may ; "  but  let  your  cry  be,  "  0  God  I  am  a 
poor,  responsible  sinner,  but  with  thy  help  I  can,  I 
should, /m/Z  lead  my  scholars  to  Jesus."  Then  plan  and 
work  for  it.  Like  other  persons,  children  must  see  tliat 
they  are  all  the  time  disobeying  the  great  and  glorious 
God,  that  they  are  all  the  time  in  danger  of  being  cast 
away.  Said  a  Christian  parent  to  me  once,  "  Do  not  tell 
my  boys  of  the  wrath  to  come."  ?  Then  I  cannot 
tell  them  Christ's  words.  I  cannot  arouse  them  "  by  the 
terror  of  the  Lord."  I  cannot  show  them  the  worth  of 
the  soul,  or  the  amazing  love  of  Jesus  in  dying  to  save 
them.     That  same  mother  gave  her  boys  the  most 


^SABBATH-SCHOOL  REVIVALS. 


191 


thrilliDg  account  of  the  scarlet  fever,  and  solemnly 
warned  them  to  avoid  the  street  where  it  was  raging. 
Said  a  dying  boy,  "Father,  why  did  you  not  tell  me 
before  that  there  was  a  hell."  That  father's  neglect 
was  shocking  cruelty.  In  great  tenderness  tell  your 
children  of  the  warnings  of  Christ,  how  he  loved  and 
healed  the  children  on  earth,  and  how  ready  he  is  now 
to  save  them. 

We  find  one  pastor,  superintendent,  or  teacher  de- 
lighted with  the  order,  instruction,  and  interest  of  a 
great  Sunday-school.  And  yet  those  children  are  going 
out  into  a  treacherous  world  and  to  a  fearful  eternity, 
"  having  no  hope  and  without  God  in  the  world  "  (Eph. 
ii.  12).  If  children  are  afflicted  with  a  disease  that, 
neglected,  will  certainly  end  in  death,  the  first  business 
is  to  heal  them.  So  the  first  thing  to  be  done  for  sin- 
sick  children  is  to  bring  them  to  tlie  Great  Physician. 

Dr.  Johnson  said  further  in  his  address  to  Sabbath- 
school  instructors  :  "  Teach  every  lesson  in  reference  to 
the  scholars  conversion.  Always  ask  '  By  what  truth  in 
this  lesson  shall  the  Spirit  convince  of  sin  and  lead  to 
Christ.'  And  remember  these  three  things.  1.  Any 
Sabbath  may  be  the  scholar's  last  opportunity.  2.  In- 
struction is  worth  far  more  to  him  after  than  before  his 
conversion.  •  3.  The  best  school  is  the  one  that  saves  the 
most  scholars."  Crowds  of  children  are  being  brought 
into  the  kingdom  by  those  who  are  guided  by  these 
principles. 


192  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

Some  pastors  not  only  preacli  to  the  children,  but 
the  service  is  followed  by  an  inquiry-meeting.  They 
enter  the  Sabbath-school  and  speak  to  them  and  lead 
them  in  prayer.  Superintendents  have  meetings  for  the 
children  at  the  house  or  the  Sabbath-school  room.  This 
is  followed  by  personal  conversation  and  prayer.  The 
pastor  can  enter  this  meeting  at  its  close.  Sometimes 
the  superintendent  turns  the  afternoon  session  into  a 
prayer-meeting.  Teachers  have  a  meeting  for  consulta- 
tion and  prayer,  or  each  one  has  a  meeting  for  liis  class. 
Efforts  for  each  child  alone  are  indispensable.  Each  one 
lias  his  difficulty.  A  certain  teacher  labored  and  prayed 
for  one  of  her  scholars  until  she  was  led  to  Christ.  Then 
she  and  the  young  convert  selected  another  scholar,  then 
those  three  another,  and  so  on  until  the  whole  class  were 
rejoicing  in  hope.  Every  child  brought  to  Christ  should 
be  carefully  trained  in  Christian  work.  He  may  thus 
become  a  mighty  power  for  good.  With  the  help  of  his 
teacher  others  may  be  reached.  Through  them  the  re- 
vival may  extend  to  the  congregation. 

THE  BOY  TEACHER. 

A  little  fellow  came  alone  to  our  church  and  Sabbath- 
school.  He  soon  became  a  Christian.  With  others  he 
often  bore  his  sweet  testimony  to  the  love  of  Jesus  in 
our  prayer-meeting.  He  early  became  a  teacher  in  our 
Sabbath-school.  One  night  at  our  Evangelistic  prayer- 
meeting  he  arose  and  said :  "  All  the  dear  boys  of  my 


THE  BOY  TEACHER. 


193 


class  are  here."  Do  pray  that  they  may  all  come  to 
Jesus.  I  never  shall  forget  his  deep  emotion  and  the 
thrilling  earnestness  of  those  prayers.  The  entire  class 
were  soon  in  the  kingdom.  Tliat  youth  has  helped  to 
save  his  companions,  and  for  years  he  has  been  the  effi- 
cient superintendent  of  a  large  Sabbath-school  in  this 
city.  He  had  served  a  long  apprenticeship  and  was 
thoroughly  trained  for  the  work  of  the  Lord.  In  tlie 
end,  he  can  do  vastly  more  for  Christ  than  he  would 
have  done  if  converted  twenty  years  later.  And  then 
who  would  have  won  him  to  Christ  twenty  years  later, 
when  his  sinful  habits  would  have  been  all  stereotyped  ? 

There  was  a  woman  in  my  church  who  always  had 
a  full  class.  She  seemed  to  have  for  them  the  love 
and  care  of  a  mother.  She  advised  and  entertained 
and  aided  them  during  the  week.  She  conversed  and 
prayed  with  them  at  lier  home.  From  year  to  year  the 
members  of  her  class  were  hopefully  converted.  Many 
of  them  became  efficient  teachers  in  the  school,  x^ext 
to  hers  was  a  large  class  instructed  by  a  pious  and  cap- 
able woman.  That  class  remained  unaffected  from  year 
to  year.  Why  this  amazing  difference  ?  The  first  aim 
of  one  teacher  was  instruction.  The  aim  of  the  other 
was  salvation. 

And  now  shall  we  not  all  of  us  enter  at  once  upon 
this  celestial  work  of  enlisting  the  rising  generation 
under  the  banner  of  the  cross?  Under  the  smile  of 
him  who  loved  little  children  we  may  readily  have. 


194 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


in  this  country,  five  millions  of  scholars  and  one  million 
of  teachers.  Let  ministers,  superintendents,  and  Cliris- 
tians  young  and  old,  be  fired  with  zeal  in  this  cause. 
See  tliese  dear  children  going  out  to  sin  and  shame,  to 
baneful  influence  and  eternal  death.  Some  of  our 
vilest  rum-sellers  and  bitterest  infidels  have  been  in 
our  Sabbath-schools.  See  those  dear  children  !  How 
quick  to  decide,  how  prompt  to  act.  ^^"ow  they  may 
be  saved.  They  have  no  invincible  habits,  no  labyrinth 
of  doubt.  Let  Christians  plead  with  Jesus  for  their 
healing.  Let  them  rely  upon  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  now 
labor  for  those  children  just  as  earnestly  as  they  would 
for  hardened  sirmers,  and  what  a  change  would  come 
over  this  land.  How  soon  should  we  see  an  army,  mill- 
ions strong,  marching  forth  under  the  banner  of  the 
cross  to  conquer  this  growing  nation. 


IX. 


REVIVAL  rREACHING. 

How  can  I  so  preach  the  gospel  that  God's  people 
shall  be  quickened  and  sinners  shall  be  saved  ?  This 
is  the  grave  question  of  the  day.  For  the  want  of  such 
preaching  myriads  of  souls  are  perishing.  It  is  found  in 
certain  localities  that  the  number  of  persons  awakened 
and  led  to  Christ  through  the  efforts  of  the  pulpit  is 
sadly  small.  Tens  of  thousands  of  sermons  have  no 
special  adaptation  to  such  a  result.  An  occasional  ser- 
mon of  the  right  stamp  is  usually  unavailing. 

WHY  SOME  PASTORS  HAVE  FEW  REVIVALS. 

The  reason  of  such  failure  in  the  case  of  some  pastors, 
whom  I  have  known  in  the  long  past,  was  very  evident. 
Some  laid  their  failure  to  the  sovereignty  of  God.  Others 
drifted  on,  waiting  for  God  to  revive  them,  as  sinners 
wait  for  God  to  convert  them.  They  seemed  to  have 
no  plan,  purpose,  nor  efficient  effort  for  revivals.  Said 
one  pastor  to  me :  "  I  have  determined  to  draw  to  my 
church  men  of  intellect."  His  first  aim  was  to  have  a 
leading  church.    His  intellectual  efforts  did  not  result 


196 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


in  religious  fervor.  A  thousand  concentrated  rays  of 
the  moon  give  no  heat.  Another  pastor  was  an  able 
preacher,  but  he  was  positive  and  independent ;  he 
stood  aloof  from  the  living,  busy  world.  He  did  not 
attract  the  people.  Another  pastor  interested  his  con- 
gregation, but  he  was  deeply  absorbed  in  newspaper, 
periodical,  and  literary  works.  Another  pastor  was 
preaching  faithful  gospel  sermons  in  the  morning,  and 
lecturing  on  morality  on  Sabbath  evenings.  He  failed 
to  follow  up  the  serious  impressions  of  the  morning. 
Another  pastor  was  a  thoughful  preacher.  He  pleased 
the  fastidious  hearer.  He  fed  the  sheep  to  repletion ; 
but  he  rarely  addressed  a  word  of  alarm  to  the  ungodly, 
or  even  prayed  for  them.  He  seemed  to  forget  the  chil- 
dren and  the  stranger.  The  weekly  lecture  took  the 
place  of  the  prayer-meeting.  The  spiritual  work  of  the 
church  was  left  mostly  to  the  pastor  and  the  choir. 
Another  pastor  was  good-natured  and  indolent.  He 
was  fond  of  lounging  and  talking.  These  pastors  were 
men  of  ability.  They  occupied  most  responsible  posi- 
tions. Another  pastor,  less  distinguished,  studied  and 
wrote  and  meant  well.  He  had  a  good  congregation, 
but  he  lacked  practical  skill.  He  utterly  failed  to 
bring  the  truth  home  to  the  heart  and  conscience  of 
his  hearers.  Another  pastor  was  doubting  and  irres- 
olute. His  motto  was  :  "  It  is  better  to  do  nothing 
than  to  venture  upon  an  effort  and  fail."  To  his  vision, 
the  children  of  Anak  were  so  tall  and  the  obstacles 


REVIVAL  PREACHING. 


19T 


were  so  mighty  that,  like  Israel  of  old,  he  chose  to 
wander  in  the  wilderness.  But  cowardice  and  incapa- 
city in  the  leader  of  the  Lord's  host  is  worse  than  timid- 
ity in  the  general  of  an  army.  Courage  is  indispensable. 
Another  pastor  was  fond  of  technicalities,  abstractions, 
and  jDolish.     He  failed  to  the  pointed  and 

powerful  truths  of  the  gospel.  Another  pastor  was 
averse  to  excitement.  He  believed  in  the  quiet  pri- 
vate way,  and  his  people  were  just  as  quiet  as  he  was. 
Another  was  a  popular  and  conscientious  young  pastor 
who  mourned  his  supposed  inability  to  move  his  people. 
I  would  not  depreciate  the  good  accomplished  by  these 
pastors,  but  1  would  to  God  that  their  preaching  might 
rise  to  the  grand  emergency  of  rescuing  souls.  The 
preaching,  like  that  of  Peter  and  Paul,  must  be  adapted 
to  this  end.  "  It  pleased  God  by  the  foolishness  of  preach- 
ing to  save  them  that  believe  "  (1  Cor.  i.  21).  The  word 
of  God  is  quick  and  powerful  (Heb.  iv.  12).  "  Is  not  my 
word  like  as  a  fire,  saith  the  Lord,  and  like  as  a  hammer 
that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  "  (Jer.  xiii.  29).  This 
is  the  preaching  that  reaches  the  hardened  sinner.  How 
utterly  do  some  preachers  foil  in  this  style  of  address. 
"  Paul  and  Barnabas  so  spake  that  great  multitudes  be- 
lieved "  (Acts  xiv.  1).  It  was  truth,  emotion,  and  man- 
ner adapted  to  this  one  end.  In  revival  preaching  the 
speaker  must  be  very  nigh  to  the  Saviour ;  he  must  be 
a  humble  man,  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  he 
must  have  a  personal  experience  of  the  truth  which  he 


198  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

preaches  ;  he  must  be  much  in  prayer  and  thoroughly 
in  earnest ;  he  must  say,  "  God  helping  me,  this  one 
thing  I  do."  Thus  prepared  he  must  reach  and  move 
the  Church  of  Clirist.  In  a  revival  of  religion  the 
soldiers  of  the  cross  strive  to  rescue  prisoners  from 
the  enemy.  It  is  a  conflict  with  Satan  for  souls  ;  it 
is  a  weighty,  arduous  business.  The  state  of  feeling 
must  be  watched,  and  one  truth  after  another  must  be 
presented  that  is  exactly  adapted  to  rescue  the  largest 
number  of  souls. 

PREACHING  TO  THE  CHURCH. 

>^Vith  God's  help  the  preacher  must  arouse  the  Lord's 
host  to  the  stern  reality  and  fierceness  of  the  conflict. 
He  must  train  them  for  it ;  and  at  the  call  of  the  great 
King  he  must  lead  them  to  the  combat.  Much  of  this 
may  be  done  privately  and  in  the  prayer-room.  But 
this  is  not  sufficient.  In  this  arduous  work,  strong,  im- 
pressive, elaborated  truth  from  the  pulpit  is  indispen- 
sable. The  grand  result  is  to  be  reached  in  the  closing 
of  such  discourses.  Here  must  come  the  full  force  and 
feeling  of  the  address.  Here  the  preacher  must  be  thor- 
oughly aroused.  Momentous  truth  must  be  pressed 
home  upon  the  heart  and  conscience  of  men  with  a  ve- 
hemence or  pathos  that,  with  God's  blessing,  will  quicken 
the  dormant  energies  of  God's  people,  and  secure  a  glo- 
rious blessing.  A  friend  of  mine  was  once  speaking  to 
me  of  a  very  impressive  sermon  from  his  pastor.  He 


PREACHING  TO  THE  CHURCH.  199 

then  added  :  "  This  was  the  first  time,  in  all  these  years, 
that  I  have  heard  him  make  a  personal  appeal  to  his 
hearers  ;  and  yet  he  is  responsible  for  their  souls."  In 
all  this  plain  and  forcible  preaching  there  must  not  be 
one  particle  of  acrimony.  If  the  preacher  would  secure 
the  penitence,  faith,  and  co-operation  of  his  church  he 
must  preach  to  himself ;  he  must  have  a  broken  spirit, 
a  loving  heart,  a  full  confidence  in  Jesus,  and  a  firm 
resolve.  For  the  want  of  these  essentials  how  many 
leaders  fail.  Having  learned  by  conversation  the  pe- 
culiar need  of  individuals,  he  must  adapt  his  preaching 
to  their  wants.  "Let  him  suit  the  medicine  to  the  mal- 
ady." Worldly  minded  Christians  cannot  move  the  un- 
godly. They  must  see  the  guilt  of  their  own  heart  and 
life.  They  must  realize  their  own  responsibility  and 
duty.  Isaiah  says  :  "  Your  sins  have  hid  his  face  from 
you,  that  he  will  not  hear  "  (Isai.  lix.  2). 

The  preacher  must  arouse  the  church.  One  of  the 
texts  of  Dr.  Payson's  first  sermon  to  the  church  in  a 
revival  effort  was,  "  Whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh 
his  sins  shall  have  mercy"  (Prov.  xxviii,  13),  The 
text  of  Mr.  Moody's  first  sermon  to  the  church  in  San 
Francisco  was,  "  Where  art  thou  ? "  (Gen.  iii.  9).  Others 
successful  in  this  work  have  selected  such  passages  as 
these  :  "  Jesus  said,  take  ye  away  the  stone  "  (John  xi. 
39),  The  backslider  in  heart "  (Prov.  xiv.  14),  "  Take 
up  the  stumbling-blocks  out  of  the  way  "  (Isai.  Ivii.  14), 
"  Wilt  thou  not  revive  us  again  ? "  (Ps.  Ixxxv.  6),  "  Be 


200  REVIVALS :  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

filled  with  the  Spirit"  (Eph.  v.  18),  "All  things  what- 
soever ye  shall  ask  in  prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive  " 
(Matt.  xxi.  22),  "  The  Spirit  itself  maketh  intercession 
for  lis  with  groanings  which  cannot  be  uttered "  (Eom. 
viii.  26).  And  that  most  remarkable  passage  on  which 
I  have  relied  for  revival  influence :  "  If  my  people,  which 
are  called  by  my  name,  shall  humble  themselves  and 
pray  and  seek  my  face,  and  turn  from  their  wicked 
way,  then  will  I  hear  from  heaven,  and  will  forgive  their 
sin  and  heal  their  land"  (2  Chron.  vii.  14).  Here  is  the 
preparation.  In  their  efforts  for  a  revival  of  religion 
some  preachers  unwisely  urge  the  church  to  an  imme- 
diate labor  for  sinners.  When  Christians  are  resting  in 
Jesus  with  clean  hearts,  then  they  are  ready  to  consider 
these  texts  :  "  I  ccm  do  all  things  through  Christ  which 
strengtheneth  me  "  (Phil.  iv.  13),  "  For  tlie  son  of  man 
is  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  whicli  was  lost "  (Luke 
xix.  10),  "  They  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  shall 
shine  as  the  stars  forever  and  ever  "  (Dan.  xii.  3).  It'  the 
blessing  comes,  and  there  are  afterward  indications  of 
worldliness  or  weariness,  then  the  words  of  Nehemiah 
are  appropriate :  "  Why  should  the  work  cease  whilst  I 
leave  it  and  come  down  to  you  ? "  (Neh.  vi.  3).  God  is 
not  weary  of  giving.  Strive  to  remove  the  obstacles, 
stimulate  the  church  to  new  zeal,  and  try  to  realize  what 
wonderful  things  God  is  waiting  to  sliower  down  upon 
you.  He  is  omnipotent.  There  is  nothing  too  hard  for 
him.  And  yet  Paul  says  to  the  Corinthians:  "Ye  are 


GOOD  SPEAKING  ATTRACTS. 


201 


the  temple  of  God,  and  the  Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in 
you,  and  all  things  are  yours  "  (1  Cor.  iii.  16,  21).  Paul 
prayed  that  the  Colossians  ''might  be  strengthened  with 
all  might  according  to  his  glorious  power"  (Col.  i.  11). 

PKEACHING  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED. 

After  your  own  preparation  and  that  of  the  church, 
address  the  impenitent.  You  would  wiji  them  to  your- 
self and  to  Jesus.  Be  natural.  Let  your  entire  human 
nature  be  engrossed  in  the  work.  Open  your  whole 
lieart  to  them.  Speak  to  them  with  force,  or  melt  them 
with  the  eloquence  of  emotion  and  magnetism.  Full 
of  care,  trouble,  or  pleasure,  they  must  be  arrested  and 
moved.  The  theatre  or  the  lecture  must  not  be  dry 
and  prosy.  What  care  the  wicked  for  a  dull  church  or 
for  simply  profound  preaching  ?  The  gospel  must  not 
be  w^eakened ;  and  yet  if  the  crowd  are  to  be  converted 
they  must  be  drawn  to  the  sanctuary.  And  the  very 
first  question  to  be  settled  is  :  "  How  can  the  true  gospel 
be  so  preached  that  the  impenitent  will  come  to  hear 
it  ? "  for  it  is  notorious  that  many  an  able  sermon  is 
preached  to  some  empty  pew^s. 

GOOD   SPEAKING   AND   STRIKING   ILLUSTRATION  ATTRACT 
THE  UNGODLY. 

In  this  style  of  preaching  tlie  Eev.  Dr.  Guthrie  was 
a  splendid  success.  If  he  were  not  the  greatest  he  was 
certainly  the  most  attractive  preacher  I  ever  heard. 


202  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

There  seems  to  have  been  nothing  remarkable  about 
Dr.  Guthrie's  first  preaching  in  a  country  parish ;  but  it 
did  not  satisfy  him.  He  determined  to  secure  the  atten- 
tion of  his  people  and  to  attract  outsiders.  He  resolved 
to  be  a  preacher.  He  saw  that  a  poor  delivery  enfeebled 
able  sermons.  He  saw  what  Demosthenes  gained  by 
his  speaking.  He  found  that  manner  w^as  to  matter 
what  powder  is  to  the  ball.  And  so  in  winters  he 
travelled  far  to  attend  elocution  classes.  "Thus,"  he  says, 
"  I  cured  defects  in  speaking."  Candidates  for  the  min- 
istry, and  young  pastors,  should  by  all  means  learn  tlie 
most  impressive  mode  of  speaking.  Moses  was  a  greater 
man  than  Aaron ;  but  when  God  would  send  Moses  to 
speak  to  the  people,  he  answered :  "  I  am  not  eloquent." 
God  said  to  liim  :  "  Aaron  shall  be  thy  spokesman  unto 
the  people  ;  I  knoio  that  he  can  speak  well  "  (Ex.  iv.  16). 
Speaking  well  is  then  essential  in  the  delivery  of  God's 
messages  to  the  people.  And  yet  how  many  say :  "  It 
is  matter  and  not  manner."  Manner  may  greatly  injure 
or  help  the  matter.  Impressive  speaking  is  indispen- 
sable to  the  grandest  success  of  Christ's  cause. 

In  the  "  Presbyterian  Monthly  Eecord"  a  writer  gives 
us  the  following:  "Said  the  elder  of  a  church  —  'Last 
Sabbath  we  had  a  fair  audience  and  a  good,  instructive 
sermon.  But  I  think  that,  with  nine  tenths  of  the 
audience,  the  delivery  killed  it.' "  Many  able  men  fail 
for  the  want  of  voice,  culture,  or  magnetism.  Said 
Judge  B. :  "A  young  man,  much  liked,  failed  to  receive 


GOOD  SPEAKING  ATTRACTS. 


203 


a  call  because  he  was  not  sufficiently  heard."  In 
another  case  it  was  said :  "  I  might  as  well  have  staid 
at  home."  Says  this  writer  :  "  How  many  do  not  acquire 
the  art  of  distinct  and  forcible  elocution.  From  rapid 
or  low  utterance,  from  bad  mouthing  or  sheer  dulness, 
how  many  addresses  drop  dead."  We  say  to  young 
preachers,  with  all  the  emphasis  we  can  command, 
Learu  to  utter  your  thoughts  clearly  and  audibly. 
"  Faith  Cometh  by  hearing,"  &c.  (Eom.  x.  17).  The  late 
Dr.  J.  G.  Holland  writes :  "  A  preacher's  public  useful- 
ness depends  on  his  art.  Unless  he  can  speak  well, 
read  well,  and  write  well,  he  cannot  impress  himself 
and  the  truths  he  preaches  upon  others.  Multitudes 
go  into  public  life  with  minds  stored,  with  reasoning 
faculties  trained,  but  the  arts  of  expression  have  no 
development.  They  try  to  preacli  and  the  people  will 
not  hear  them."  Eev.  H.  W.  Beecher  says :  "  There  is 
no  misconstruction  more  utterly  untrue  and  fatal  than 
this,  that  oratory  is  an  artificial  thing  which  deals  with 
baubles  and  trifles  for  the  sake  of  making  bubbles  of 
pleasure  for  transient  effect  on  mercurial  audiences.  So 
far  from  this,  it  is  the  consecration  of  the  whole  man 
to  the  education  and  inspiration  of  his  fellow-man  Ijy 
all  that  there  is  in  learning,  thought,  and  feeling,  sent 
home  through  the  channels  of  taste  and  beauty."  He 
believes  that  a  living  force  that  brings  to  itself  all  that 
is  influential  in  spirit  and  body,  in  voice,  in  eye,  in 
gesture,  is  in  strict  analogy  with  the  divine  arrange- 


204 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


meiits,  and  that  oratory  should  take  its  place  among 
the  highest  departments  of  education.  The  outside 
world  must  be  reached.  They  must  be  attracted  by 
the  preaching.    The  young  must  learn  how  to  speak. 

Dr.  Guthrie  also  set  himself  vigorously  at  work  to 
cultivate  his  imagination,  and  by  attractive  and  appro- 
priate means  to  illustrate  and  enforce  the  truth.  He 
says  :  "  I  noticed  what  most  affected  my  hearers.  I 
threw  myself  into  the  characters  introduced.  I  felt 
and  talked  as  tliey  would  do."  Thus  he  charmed  and 
moved  and  won  the  surging  crowd.  And  thus  he  was 
in  just  the  position  to  win  them  to  Christ.  During  an 
evening  at  his  house  in  Edinburgh  he  showed  us  how 
he  prepared  his  sermon.  In  a  blank  book  he  wrote 
portions  of  it  on  every  other  page.  "  Then,"  as  he  said, 
"  I  cut  out  dry  bits  and  sharpened  dull  ones.  I  made 
obscurity  clear  and  narrative  graphic.  I  used  the  orna- 
mental as  well  as  the  useful.  I  studied  my  notes  and 
left  them  at  home."  His  church  was  in  the  old,  dis- 
agreeable part  of  the  city,  near  to  the  Castle.  And  yet 
we  saw  there  a  crowd  at  the  doors  that  could  not  enter. 
With  tickets  from  him  we  reached  the  gallery.  Among 
the  aristocracy  present  was  the  Duchess  of  Sutherland. 
As  the  Doctor  proceeded  with  his  sermon  he  gesticulated 
with  both  hands  and  with  his  whole  body.  His  argu- 
ments were  strong.  His  bounding  imagination  painted 
and  dramatized  the  truth,  which  he  forced  home  upon 
the  conscience.     This  was  done  with  great  emotion. 


ILL  USTRATIONS  A  TTRACT. 


205 


One  mighty  charm  and  power  of  the  man,  in  and  out 
of  the  pulpit,  was  his  great  throbbing  heart.  One  day 
he  took  us  out  to  the  cemetery.  As  we  stood  by  the 
graves  of  Chahners  his  companion,  of  Hugh  Miller  his 
elder,  and  of  the  Eev.  Mr.  Dickinson  of  Philadelphia, 
he  poured  forth  a  torrent  of  anecdote,  eloquence,  and 
piety  which  seemed  almost  enougli  to  raise  them  from 
the  dead.  So  in  his  private  intercourse  with  the  peo- 
ple. So  in  the  pulpit.  This  emotion  brought  him  into 
w^arm  and  loving  sympathy  with  his  hearers. 

Is  it  said,  "What  has  all  this  to  do  with  revival 
preaching  ? "  We  answer,  "  Much  every  way."  In  the 
yearly  ingathering  of  souls  an  ordinary  congregation 
will  soon  become  members  of  the  church.  But  this 
work  is  to  extend.  It  is  to  reach  all  grades  in  society. 
The  world  is  to  be  converted.  If  the  young,  the  care- 
less, and  the  wretched  are  to  be  saved,  they  must  be 
drawn  to  the  sanctuary.  They  must  hear  the  gospel. 
Mere  Orthodoxy  and  commonplace  sermons  will  not 
draw  them  to  the  sanctuary.  The  truth  must  be  skil- 
fully adapted  to  the  people.  Good  speaking,  striking 
illustration,  burning  words,  and  tender  synipatliy  attract 
the  crowd.  Thus  the  old  and  the  young,  the  worldling 
and  the  scoffer,  are  prepared  to  listen  to  the  solemn 
truth  that  often  becomes  to  them  the  "  sword  of  the 
Spirit." 

Is  it  still  objected  that  "  incidents  and  moral  pic- 
tures are  well  enough  for  the  young,  the  simple,  and  the 


206 


RE  VIVALS :  HO  IV  AND   WHEN  ? 


ignorant."  Do  not  these  persons  need  the  Saviour  ? 
And  are  these  alone  affected  by  moral  painting  ?  Was 
the  Eoyal  David  a  dolt,  —  he  who  by  his  brilliant 
genius  rose  from  the  sheepfold  to  a  throne,  he  the 
inspired  minstrel  of  all  tongues  ?  And  yet  it  was  the 
little  story  of  the  ewe  lamb  that  pierced  his  heart  and 
brought  forth  the  51st  Psalm.  And  that  masterpiece  of 
all  ages  and  all  tongues,  Christ's  "  Prodigal  Son."  How 
many  perishing  souls  has  it  brought  home  to  their 
Father  in  heaven.  Jesus  "  spake  many  things  in  para- 
bles." "  He  garnished  the  truth  with  vivid  and  beautiful 
pictures  drawn  from  summer  fields  and  humble  homes, 
with  love  and  pity  for  the  poor  and  suffering."  "  The 
Holy  Spirit  uses  every  faculty  of  thought,  illustration, 
and  speech,  hallowing  by  its  fire  all  genius,  all  life,  all 
nature,  touching  and  illuminating  everything."  What 
are  the  mown  grass,  the  swept  room,  the  sown  grain, 
the  lighted  candle,  the  planted  vineyard,  the  built 
tower,  the  mustard,  and  the  bramble  ?  But  Jesus  and 
the  inspired  writers  have  breathed  spiritual  life  into 
these  things.  We  see  in  them  the  gravest  truths.  This 
Scriptural  example  has  been  successfully  followed  by 
Bunyan,  Whitefield,  Edwards,  Payson,  Spurgeon,  Moody, 
and  crowds  of  revival  preachers.  Authors  that  live, 
like  Homer,  Dante,  and  Milton,  were  moral  painters. 
Cicero  had  his  Gracchus,  and  Demosthenes  had  his 
Philip.  God  did  not  make  "a  leaden  sky,  a  barren 
garden,  or  a  leafless  wood." 


REASON  ESSENTIAL. 


207 


Moral  painting  meets  a  want  in  our  being.  It  ap- 
peals to  the  perceptive  faculties  and  to  our  emotional 
nature.  It  thus  adds  power  and  freshness  to  truth.  It 
meets  a  want  in  children  and  busy  people.  I  have 
known  one  simple  illustration  to  bring  a  burdened  soul 
to  a  joyous  trust  in  Jesus  ;  and  yet  illustration  may  be 
badly  done  and  over  done.  It  may  be  unfeeling  and 
wordy.  It  may  be  weak  and  frivolous.  While  in  all 
your  ways  and  studies  you  are  asking,  "What  is  this 
like,  and  what  will  it  make  clear  and  simple  ? "  never 
forget  that  you  must  have  something  to  illustrate. 
"  Come  now  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the  Lord  " 
(Isai.  xvi.  18). 

THE  UNDERSTANDING  MUST  BE  CONVINCED. 

You  must  have  forcible  truth  and  logical  argument; 
you  must  yourself  understand  and  press  home  upon 
your  hearer  the  profound  science  of  divine  things ;  then 
an  appropriate  picture  will  engrave  the  train  of  thought 
upon  the  mind.  While  a  pastor  in  the  city  of  Syracuse, 
Y.,  a  blind  man  entered  my  house.  I  gave  him  my 
name  and  said  to  him  :  "  Ten  years  ago  you  were  in 
Boston,  and  for  a  single  Sabbath  you  played  my  organ." 
With  much  surprise  he  said :  "  Yes,  I  remember  it  per- 
fectly." He  then  repeated  to  me  all  the  illustrations 
and  heads  of  that  sermon. 


208 


RE  VIVALS :  HO  W  AND  WHEN  f 


REVIVAL  PKEACIIERS  MUST  USE  SIMPLE  LANGUAGE. 

The  Lord  Chancellor  of  England  said  of  Mr.  Moody : 
"His  simplicity,  and  the  clear  manner  in  which  he  sets 
forth  salvation  by  Christ,  is  to  me  the  most  delightful 
tiling  I  ever  knew  in  my  life."  Preachers  must  use 
plain  Saxon  words,  that  flash  and  burn  without  a  dic- 
tionary. Hearers  must  take  the  exact  meaning  at  once. 
Clarify  and  utilize  the  truth.  Such  w^ords  as  objective, 
subjective,  imputation,  and  reprobation  may  be  dropped. 
The  language  of  Christ  was  simple.  Paul  would  rather 
speak  five  words  with  his  understanding  than  ten  thou- 
sand words  in  an  unknown  tongue  (1  Cor.  xiv.  19).  Even 
the  words  repentance  and  faith  might  be  more  impres- 
sive to  the  young  and  the  ignorant  if  their  meaning  were 
described  in  simple  language.  Some  persons  are  always 
annoyed  by  long  sermons.    Condense  and  shorten. 

THE  PROFOUNDEST  DOCTRINES  MUST  BE  ENFORCED. 

When  revivals  wane,  the  old  foundation  teachings  of 
the  Bible  sometimes  sink  out  of  sight ;  even  the  sove- 
reignty of  God,  eternal  punishment,  and  the  new^  birth 
are  only  remembered  as  old  relics  of  the  dark  past.  This 
was  precisely  the  process  of  the  Unitarian  defection  in 
New  England.  Eevivals  had  ceased,  and  men  modi- 
fied tlie  doctrines  to  suit  their  w^orldly  lives.  Eevival 
preaching  is  not  froth  and  shallowness.  It  is  not  flash 
eloquence  and  mere  exhortation.    It  is  the  clearest, 


ENFORCE  PROFOUND  DOCTRINES.  209 

weightiest  preaching  in  the  world.  Paul's  weapons 
were  "  mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of 
strongholds  "  (2  Cor.  x.  4).  The  doctrines  of  the  Bible 
are  practical  forces  of  untold  power.  They  must  be 
pressed  home  upon  the  conscience  and  heart  of  men 
with  more  than  earthly  vigor.  Sinners  must  see  them- 
selves in  the  hands  of  that  God  who  "  will  bring  every 
work  into  judgment,  with  every  secret  thing,  whether  it 
be  good  or  whether  it  be  evil"  (Ecc.  xii.  14).  The  per- 
fect law  of  Jehovah,  with  its  terrific  penalty,  must  be 
pressed  home  upon  the  consciences  of  men.  Says  Paul 
to  the  Galatians  :  "  Cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth 
not  in  all  things  which  are  written  in  the  book  of  the 
law  to  do  them  "  (Gal.  iii.  10).  What  is  it  for  a  soul  to 
be  followed  by  a  curse  from  heaven  ?  How  vividly  and 
pointedly  has  Jesus  described  this  penalty  in  the  gos- 
pels. There  are  people  in  this  world  whose  constant 
presence  would  mar  our  happiness.  The  sinner  would 
be  utterly  out  of  place  in  heaven.  You  must  show  him 
his  utter  unfitness  for  that  society.  He  must  have  the 
saintly  spirit.  Show  him  that  he  will  soon  launch  forth 
upon  the  scowling  waves  of  a  shoreless  ocean.  Lead 
him  to  look  into  eternity.  Eternity !  The  earth  may 
be  burned  wdth  fire,  and  "  the  heavens  will  be  rolled  to- 
gether  as  a  scroU,"  but  he  still  lives.  Sometime  since, 
the  moon  and  one  of  the  heavenly  bodies  occupied  a 
relative  position  which  astronomers  tell  us  they  will 
not  reach  again  for  more  than  twenty-five  hundred 


210  REVIVALS:  MOW  AND  WHEN? 

thousand  veal's.  TJien  the  sinner's  life  will  have  fairly 
commenced.  J^ow  it  is  not  six  thousand  years  since 
the  birth  of  Adam.  But  where  will  he  be  ?  In  all  this 
time  he  will  be  suffering.  "  The  wicked,"  says  Daniel, 
"  are  raised  to  shame  and  everlasting  contempt."  The 
wicked  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment.  Says 
John  :  "They  shall  be  tormented  forever  and  ever, 
where  the  worm  dieth  not."  And  yet  the  wicked  make 
no  efforts  to  escape  this  misery.  They  even  hope  for 
heaven.  But  why  press  these  truths  ?  Because  by  the 
law  is  the  knowledge  of  sin  (Eom.  iii.  20).  "  The  law  of 
the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul "  (Ps.  xix.  7). 
It  leads  the  sinner  to  Christ  (Eom.  x.  4).  There  are 
men  in  the  rush  of  worldliness  and  the  whirlpool  of  sin. 
Force,  the  force  of  these  stupendous  truths,  must  be  pressed 
home  to  their  hearts  and  consciences  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Sometimes  the  preaching  is  to  be  like  the 
hammer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  (Jer.  xxiii.  29). 
Men  are  to-day  talking  of  a  sermon  on  "  The  Delayed 
Justice  of  God,"  which  they  heard  President  Woods,  of 
Bowdoin  College,  deliver  thirty  years  ago.  Says  Dr. 
Charles  Hodge :  "  The  sinner  must  be  convicted  of  sin 
before  he  embraces  Christ."  He  needs  a  sense  of  his 
guilt  and  his  just  exposure  to  punishment.  With  Job 
he  must  behold  the  great  Jehovah,  and  exclaim  from 
the  heart :  "  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and 
ashes."  "  God  now  commandeth  all  men  everywhere  to 
repent "  (Acts  xvii.  30).    Why  is  man  to  repent  ?  Be- 


HOW  IS  THE  SINNER  TO  EEPENT?  211 

cause  he  has  trampled  upon  the  perfect  law  of  God  and 
has  served  himself  and  the  world. 

HOW  IS  THE  SINNEE  TO  KEPENT  AND  LIVE  ? 

He  is  to  see  how  he  has  sinned  against  perfect  law. 
He  is  to  mourn  over  his  wicked  life  and  his  vile  ingrati- 
tude. This  is  not  all.  "  Eepent  ye  therefore  and  he  con- 
verted "  (Acts  iii.  19).  In  deep  self-abasement  he  is  to 
turn  from  his  sins  to  the  service  of  God.  This  is  not 
all.  He  is  to  trust  the  Lord  Jesus  alone  to  forgive  and 
save  him,  for  "  Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  to  every 
one  that  beheveth  "  (Eom.  x.  4).  "  The  Law  is  our  school- 
master, to  bring  us  to  Christ "  (Gal.  iii.  24).  In  presen- 
tation of  such  truths  the  preacher  has  no  choice,  for  it 
is  God's  Word ;  and  he  says  to  us  as  he  said  to  Jonah  : 
"  Preach  unto  Nineveh  the  preaching  that  I  bid  thee  " 
(Jonah  iii.  2),  "  And  he  that  hath  my  word  let  him 
speak  my  word  faithfully  "  (Jer.  xxiii.  28).  Now  what 
of  the  man  who  leaves  these  themes  out  of  his  preach- 
ing ?  He  loses  an  argument  of  transcendent  force.  He 
belittles  the  value  of  Christ's  death,  and  "  shuns  to  de- 
clare to  men  the  whole  council  of  God"  (Acts  xxi.  27). 
Some  parishioners  of  his  may  finally  say :  "  Jesus  told 
of  the  gulf  that  never  can  be  passed,  of  the  worm  that 
never  dies,  and  of  the  everlasting  punishment  (Matt, 
xxv.  46) ;  but  you  never  urgently  warned  us  of  the 
coming  wrath  to  which  we  are  now  doomed."  Then  no 
plea  of  doubt  or  expediency  or  good  taste  will  be  avail- 


212  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

ing.  The  trumpet  has  given  an  uncertain  sound.  Strive 
to  show  them  the  justice  of  their  condemnation  and  the 
fearful  anguisli  of  their  eternal  future,  and  they  may 
be  happy  to  rush  into  the  arms  of  a  loving  Saviour. 

THESE  SOLEMN  TRUTHS    MUST   BE   UTTERED  WITH 
DEEP  EMOTION. 

According  to  the  direction  of  Dr.  John  Hall  of  this 
city  we  should  speak  these  things  with  awe,  "with  melt- 
ing w^ords,  with  stammering  tongue,  with  flowing  tears." 
Jesus  wept  over  the  doomed  city,  and  Paul  ceased  not  to 
warn  every  one,  luith  tears.  If  these  warnings  are  given 
in  a  cool  professional  way  they  may  only  harden  the 
hearts  of  men.  It  is  light  without  heat.  One  night  in 
the  vale  of  Chamouni  I  saw  the  deep  ravines,  the  broad 
avalanches,  the  crystal  minarets,  and  the  icy  caverns,  all 
mingling  together  in  deep  obscurity.  Suddenly,  some- 
where over  the  great  mountains,  the  sun  came  out  from 
a  cloud,  and  away  up,  on  the  snow-white  head  of  Mount 
Blanc  that  was  hanging  twelve  thousand  feet  above  us, 
that  sun  was  pouring  a  flood  of  transparent  light  that 
can  only  be  surpassed  by  the  magnificent  glory  of  heaven 
itself.  But  oh,  how  cold  !  It  was  brilliantly  lighted 
ice.  So  with  the  fervors  of  tlie  intellect.  Genius  may 
blaze,  imagination  may  soar,  eloq^uence  may  charm;  but 
is  any  heart  melted,  is  any  soul  saved  ?  A  noted 
pastor  in  this  city  once  said  to  me  :  "  At  one  time  I 
prepared  and  preached  to  my  people  an  alarming  ser- 


AWAKEN  THE  IMPENITENT.  213 

mon.  It  was  an  intellectual  effort.  I  did  it  from  a 
sense  of  duty  ;  but  I  was  entreated  by  a  Christian  friend 
never  to  preach  that  sermon  again.  Years  afterward, 
v/hen  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  with  us  in  subduing 
power,  I  repreached  that  sermon,  with  a  tender,  weeping 
heart,  and  it  resulted  in  the  awakening  and  salvation  of 
souls."  Such  preaching  is  sharper  than  any  two-edged 
sword.  But  revival  preaching  is  not  all  guilt  and  danger. 
There  is  the  love  of  Jesus.  You  can  indeed  urge  upon 
the  ungodly  no  motive  so  noble  as  the  fact  that  Jesus 
lived  and  died  on  earth  to  save  him.  But  the  un- 
awakened  sinner  may  not  appreciate  this  truth.  "  Yes," 
he  answers,  "  God  is  merciful."  This  truth  becomes  to 
him  a  siren  song.  He  is  not  prepared  for  it.  Let  him 
see  himself  a  lost  and  vile  sinner ;  then,  with  thrilling 
fervor,  you  may  press  him  into  the  arms  of  Jesus ;  for 
even  a  wicked  man  would  escape  misery  and  secure 
happiness. 

THE  IMPENITENT  MUST  BE  AWAKENED. 

Having  given  some  Scripture  that  is  often  used  in 
addressing  the  church,  I  will  now  refer  to  some  texts 
that  have  been  used  with  great  force  by  preachers  no- 
tably successful  in  winning  men  to  Christ.  They  have 
taken  them  from  the  law  to  the  gospel,  from  Sinai  to 
Calvary.  Thus  in  Peter's  Pentecostal  sermon  men 
were  pricked  in  their  heart,  and  said :  "  What  shall  we 
do  ? "  (Acts  ii.  37).    Paul  pressed  the  terror  of  the  Lord  ; 


214  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

SO  Edwards  and  Payson  and  Finney  and  ISTettleton  and 
E.  N.  Kirk  and  J.  W.  Alexander.  So  we  heard  Moody 
preach  with  tears  on  "Son,  remember"  (Luke  xvi.  25). 
Others  have  preached  on  the  texts:  "It  is  a  fearful 
thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God"  (Heb. 
X.  31),  "  Ye  shall  die  in  your  sins,"  "  He  that  being 
often  reproved  "  (Prov.  xxix.  1),  "  He  that  is  not  with 
me  is  against  me,"  "What  shall  it  profit  a  man?"  "My 
Spirit  shall  not  always  strive,"  "  The  door  was  shut," 
"  And  he  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see  life, 
but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him "  (John  iii.  36), 
"  What  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ? "  "  God  so  loved  the 
world,"  "  Come  unto  me  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends 
of  the  earth  "  (Isai.  xlv.  22),  "  Him  that  cometh  to  me 
I  will  in  nowise  cast  out."  But  it  is  said  :  "  Persons  of 
refinement  do  not  like  such  preaching.  The  state  of 
society  is  altered."  The  truth  is  not  altered  to  accom- 
modate them  one  jot  or  tittle.  Eternity  is  not  short- 
ened one  single  hour,  and  the  danger  of  sinners  and 
their  prospective  agonies  are  not  lessened  one  particle. 
But  you  say,  "these  truths  can  be  inferred  from  our 
preaching."  Inferred  !  Instant  danger  of  eternal  ban- 
ishment from  hope  and  heaven  inferred  !  Is  it  inferred 
in  the  teachings  of  Jesus  ?  He  clearly  announces  it  as 
the  one  stupendous  and  terrific  danger.  And  if  preach- 
ers had  a  living  realization  of  his  burning  words,  their 
cry  to  sinners  would  be,  "  Flee  from  the  wrath  to  come," 
"  Escape  for  thy  life."    Is  it  insisted  that  such  preach- 


AWAKEN  THE  IMPENITENT. 


215 


ing  would  drive  people  from  the  churches  ?  A  recent 
writer  answers :  "  Are  the  vast  crowds  that  press  into 
Spurgeon's,  Talmadge's,  and  Moody's  tabernacles  regaled 
w^ith  flatteries  of « human  dignity  and  honeyed  accents  of 
baptized  rationalism  ? "  'No  I  Men  are  more  or  less 
conscious  of  sin  and  danger.  They  are  interested  in 
earnest  presentations  of  guilt  forgiven  and  glory  won. 
If  these  weighty  and  alarming  truths  are  properly  deliv- 
ered, under  the  guidance  of  the  Spirit  and  with  the 
prayerful  effort  of  Christians,  the  wicked  will  not  be 
repelled.  They  will  throng  revival  meetings.  Jesus 
presses  these  solemn  warnings  upon  sinners  because 
he  loves  them  !  How  he  loved  them  in  the  garden  ! 
"  How  he  loved  them  on  the  throne."  Whether  w^ear- 
ing  the  crown  of  thorns  or  the  crown  of  the  universe,  it 
is  all  in  love  for  the  sinner.  The  anibassador  of  Christ 
must  share  his  tenderness.  The  grand  want  of  many 
is  "  love  more  than  lore,''  heart  more  than  head.  Sit 
down  by  the  cross  until  your  heart  is  melted,  and  then, 
with  Christ's  spirit  of  sacrifice  and  his  longing  for  souls, 
go  to  the  ungodly.  Show  them  the  God  they  have 
spurned,  the  Spirit  they  have  grieved,  the  Saviour  they 
have  rejected,  and  the  awful  penalty  that  awaits  them. 
And  as  you  hear  their  cry,  "  How  can  we  escape  the 
damnation  of  hell  ? "  (Matt,  xxiii.  33)  point  them  to 
"the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world."  He  is  still  crying  to  them,  "  Come  unto  me  and 
be  ye  saved."    Eelying  upon  the  help  of  God,  you  can 


216 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


urge  these  truths  upon  them  with  all  the  pathos  and 
vehemence  of  your  nature.  You  can  have  the  power 
of  God's  Spirit.  "  The  poet  and  the  genius  make  com- 
mon things  radiant."  Enlivened  by  divine  influence 
you  can  present  known  truths  with  vividness  and  force. 
Thus  may  Jesus  become  the  chief  among  ten  thousand 
to  crowds  of  perishing  souls.  And  oh,^how  amazing 
is  this  change  !  In  Jesus  Christ  they  are  new  creatures. 
Their  sin  is  blotted  out.  As  God  has  said,  "  I  will 
remember  their  sin  no  more  "  (Jer.  xxxi.  34). 

THE   REVIVAL  PREACHER   PROCLAIMS    THESE  MOMENTOUS 
TRUTHS  WITH  POINT. 

He  aims  the  truth  directly  to  the  heart  and  con- 
science. After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  bullets  were 
found  in  the  trees  forty  feet  above  the  heads  of  men. 
So  with  some  volleys  of  truth. 

DRS.  PAXTON,  BEECHER,  AND  CHALMERS. 

Dr.  William  M.  Paxton,  in  his  admirable  Moderator's 
Sermon,  addressed  to  our  General  Assembly,  said :  "  A 
giant's  arm  may  be  strong,  but  if  he  has  not  skill 
enough  to  know  precisely  where  to  plant  his  blows,  his 
efforts  will  be  ineffective.  So  if  the  minister  has  no 
definite  purpose,  or  if  he  aims  at  the  intellect  instead 
of  the  conscience,  the  results  will  be  feeble  and  partial. 
Truth  aimed  at  the  intellect  is  a  ray  of  light  shot  into  a 
dark  place ;  truth  aimed  at  the  conscience  is  a  ball  of 


TAXTON,  BEECHER,  AND  CHALMERS.  217 

fire.  It  carries  heat  as  well  as  liglit,  and  it  falls  into 
a  magazine  of  powder."  Preach  directly  to  the  con- 
science !  By  the  truth  Paul  commended  himself  to 
every  man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of  God  (2  Cor.  iv.  2). 
Such  pointed  truth  is  essential  to  the  securement  of 
wise  and  prompt  action.  Dr.  Chalmers  said  to  the 
ungodly :  "  You  may  think  your  last  call  far  off,  but  it 
will  come ;  the  death  struggle,  the  shroud,  the  funeral 
far  off,  but  they  will  come ;  the  day  of  judgment,  and 
the  sentence  '  Depart  from  me  ye  cursed,'  far  off,  but 
they  will  come."  I  have  heard  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher 
say,  "  You  may  throw  pearls  of  trutli  at  the  feet  of  the 
sinner,  and  he  will  not  pick  them  up."  You  must  urge 
these  truths  upon  him  with  intense  emotion.  People 
came  to  hear  what  this  eloquent  preacher  would  say  to 
Dr.  Channing  the  great  advocate  of  Unitarianism.  He 
said  nothing  to  him,  but  he  said  much  to  them.  It 
was  no  aimless  effort.  He  strove  to  win  their  souls  at 
once  to  Jesus.  In  this  way  he  pleaded  with  them :  "You 
can  submit  yourself  to  God ;  nmu  he  will  save  you ; 
this  is  the  time ;  this  is  the  place ;  God  is  urgent ; 
the  Spirit  presses ;  angels  wait  to  carry  the  glad  tid- 
ings home  to  heaven."  And  the  sinner  said  in  his 
heart,  "  This  is  to  me."  Christians  were  also  enforcing 
the  truth  with  the  same  directness.  Thus  it  was  that 
the  poor,  the  rich,  the  cultured,  and  the  skeptics  of  Bos- 
ton bowed  to  the  divine  force  of  God's  truth  and  Spirit. 
The  result  in  one  case  I  can  never  forget.    In  those 


218  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

days  of  my  youth  he  was  our  pastor.  One  night  I 
went  to  my  room  saying :  "  This  matter  shall  now  be 
settled.  But  how  ? "  All  was  dark.  My  best  efforts 
were  vain.  I  ought  to  have  heard  Jesus  saying,  "  Ye 
will  not  come  to  me  that  ye  might  have  life."  But  I 
did  not.  I  grew  angry.  I  said :  "  God  saves  others ; 
he  will  not  save  me."  There  I  was  a  fierce  rebel. 
About  the  midnight  hour  I  read  that  powerful  sermon 
of  the  Doctor's,  "  The  Government  of  God  Desirable." 
As  I  read  I  exclaimed :  "  Why  has  he  not  smitten  me 
dead  ? "  Then  I  forgot  myself.  My  whole  soul  went 
out  to  God.  I  was  swallowed  up  in  his  ineffable  and 
transcendent  glory.  And  I  said :  "  0  God !  reign  over 
me  and  mine  forever  and  ever ! "  The  next  morning  as 
I  walked  the  street  —  as  I  wandered  to  the  shore  and 
looked  out  upon  the  great  ocean  —  it  was  all  God  in 
his  unveiled  glory.  That  peculiar  experience  has  tinged 
my  whole  Christian  life.  It  was  not  merely  a  good 
thing  to  be  a  Christian.  It  was  an  unspeakable  favor  to 
be  a  humble  subject  of  the  infallible  Jehovah.  It  has 
been  a  precious  privilege  even  in  the  depths  of  adver- 
sity to  exclaim  from  the  heart,  "  0  God,  thy  will  be 
done ! "  And  then  how  sweet  to  remember  that  this 
was  all  through  the  merit  and  mercy  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
The  grand  object  of  the  revival  preacher  is  the  rescue 
of  the  perishing. 


INTENSE  EARNESTNESS. 


219 


THE  PREACHER  MUST  BE  INTENSELY  EARNEST. 

He  must  press  the  truths  upon  men  with  a  force 
that  corresponds  with  the  value  of  the  souls  to  be 
saved.  Hear  the  pleadings  of  the  advocate,  and  see 
the  intensity  of  the  physician  in  cases  of  life  and  death. 
See  the  politician,  the  Wall  Street  operator,  and  tl)e 
man  of  business.  See  men  rushing  over  sea  and  land, 
or  sending  messages  with  bewildering  haste.  But  here 
are  the  souls  of  men.  Their  eternal  safety  is  often 
depending  upon  the  preacher.  He  must  have  "  the 
divine  fire."  The  Archfiend  and  all  his  imps  are  in 
deadly  earnest.  And  the  preacher  who  is  contending 
with  them  for  souls  must  gain  the  victory.  How  is 
this  to  be  done  ?  The  gospel  is  the  sword  of  the  Spirit. 
The  gospel  rightly  preached  is  to  be  the  power  of  God 
unto  the  salvation  of  perishing  men.  Plain  Mr.  Moody 
has  won  thousands  to  Jesus.  His  motto  is,  "This  one 
thing  I  do."  His  preaching  is  plain,  apt,  and  pointed. 
He  illustrates  and  acts  out  the  solid  truths.  He  is 
tender  and  prayerful.  He  is  intensely  earnest.  Above 
all,  he  is  armed  with  the  Apostle's  breastplate  of  faith 
and  lom  (1  Thess.  v.  8).  He  always  seeks  an  interview 
with  his  hearers.  And  though  mountains  rise  in  his 
way  he  holds  on  to  God  and  presses  forward.  E"ow 
shall  men  coolly  preach  on  general  themes  in  profes- 
sional style  ?  It  must  be  weighty  truth  in  its  intens- 
est  form.    God  is  earnest  in  all  his  threatenings  and 


220  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

promises.  The  Spirit  is  earnest  in  all  his  strivings. 
Jesus  was  earnest  in  the  garden  and  on  the  cross,  and 
his  great,  tender  heart  is  now  glowing  with  intense 
desire  to  save  men.  And  there  are  times  when  the 
truth  which  the  preacher  delivers  should  he  "  a  burn- 
ing lava-stream  from  a  volcanic  heart."  And  this  is 
not  the  mere  glow  of  nature.  Jesus  is  saying  to  you,  as 
he  did  when  he  commissioned  the  disciples,  "  Eeceive 
ye  the  Holy  Ghost."  Will  you  refuse  this  gift  ?  Con- 
secrate to  God  your  intellect,  knowledge,  and  culture. 
He  will  give  you  power.  In  this  rushing  age  men  are 
pressing  affairs  with  electric  speed.  The  preaching  of 
sound  instruction,  peaceful  experience,  and  good  works — 
in  a  professional  way — will  not  arrest  them.  "  It  is  the 
tears  that  bedew  the  sermon.  It  is  the  heart  that 
flames  out  in  every  sentence."  "When  asleep  Paul 
seemed  to  dream  of  souls.  Wlien  awake  he  wrestled 
for  them."  So  must  it  be  with  the  preacher.  What 
means  of  success  we  have.  Truth,  unmixed  with  error, 
flashing  like  God's  own  lightning.  But  our  cry  must 
be :  "  Nearer,  O  Christ,  to  thee,  —  nearer  to  the  bleeding 
heart,  the  crimson  sweat,  nearer  to  the  eyes  that  wept 
in  love  for  me  a  sinner."  Jesus  loves  the  ungodly. 
He  loves  to  save  them.  With  what  point  and  ardor 
should  the  preacher  address  them.  Their  destiny  is  at 
stake.  Tliey  may  be  spirits  of  light  and  glory.  They 
may  honor  Jesus  and  become  a  joy  to  others.  They 
may  be  banished  rebels,  cursing  God  and  their  fellows 


DBS.  GRIFFIN  AND  ARNOT.  221 

forever.  And  yet  as  their  pastor  you  are  answerable. 
Yours  is  a  crushing  responsibility.  God  says  to  you : 
"  0  son  of  man,  I  have  set  thee  a  watchman ;  when  I 
say  unto  the  wicked,  0  wicked  man,  thou  shalt  surely 
die,  —  if  thou  dost  not  speak  to  warn  the  wicked  from  his 
way,  that  wicked  man  shall  die  in  his  iniquity  ;  but 
his  blood  will  /  require  at  tlmie  hand  "  (Ezek.  xxxv.  7,  8). 
In  this  warning  to  the  sinner  there  must  be  concentrated 
the  complete  intensity  of  your  manhood.  This  is  indis- 
pensable. And  yet  how  rarely  do  we  hear  these  thrilling 
warnings  of  danger.  God  also  says,  "  I  am  against  the 
shepherds,  and  I  will  require  my  flock  at  their  hands  " 
(Ezek.  xxxiv.  10).  So  many  sermons  and  calls  and 
baptisms  and  additions  from  other  churches  are  useful 
and  pleasant ;  but  how  will  the  under  shepherd  account 
for  his  lost  sheep  ?  Wiiat  will  he  do  when  he  meets 
them  at  the  judgment  ? 

DKS.  GEIFFIN  AND  ARNOT. 

In  olden  times  the  Orthodox  and  Unitarian  minis- 
ters were  both  members  of  the  Convention  of  Congrega- 
tional Ministers  in  Massachusetts.  In  my  student  days 
they  once  met  in  the  Brattle  Street  Unitarian  Church, 
Boston.  Eev.  Dr.  Griffin  preached  the  annual  sermon. 
I  heard  him  say  :  "  We  are  ambassadors  from  the  King. 
Our  place  is  by  the  Shekinah.  Heaven  and  hell  will 
forever  ring  with  the  memorials  of  our  ministry.  Be- 
ware of  unhallowed  fervors  and  false  fires.    Let  our  ser- 


222  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

mons  be  impassioned.  Let  our  prayers  be  agonizing.  Oh, 
the  doom  of  the  unfaithful  pastor ! "  That  sermon  I  shall 
never  forget.  When  I  walk  these  streets  and  see  the 
vast  crowds,  and  think  of  the  millions  who  have  no 
Saviour,  I  sometimes  cry  aloud,  "  O  God,  have  mercy."  I 
feel  like  exclaiming,  in  the  very  words  of  the  great  and 
good  and  now  glorified  Dr.  Arnot :  "  I  see  men,  women, 
and  youth  perishing.  The  number  is  so  great  that  it 
overwhelms  me.  My  brain  is  burning,  my  heart  is 
breaking.  Crowds  in  the  church  are  asleep,  —  and  the 
world  too.  I  am  weary  of  holding  in.  I  must  cry  out. 
I  would  rather  be  counted  singular  in  the  judgment  of 
man  than  unfaithful  in  the  judgment  of  God.  And 
this  matter  demands  instant  attention.  In  a  few  years 
our  destiny  and  the  destiny  of  all  this  world's  inhabi- 
tants will  be  fixed  for  eternity.  Every  day  the  dark 
passage  of  death  is  crowded  with  immortal  beings. 
What  we  do  must  be  done  quickly." 

LET  us  TAKE  COURAGE. 

Thanks  be  to  God,  Jesus  is  ready  to  help  us.  He 
now  waits  to  inspire  his  messengers.  They  may  now 
put  away  all  thought  of  popularity  and  place,  and  all 
that  fear  of  man  which  bringeth  a  snare  (Prov.  xxix. 
25).  They  may  gain  a  victory  over  deep-rooted  world- 
liness  and  unbelief.  They  may  rest  down  upon  the 
promise  of  God  who  would  have  all  men  to  be  saved. 
Their  determined  cry  may  be ;  "  Something  must  now 


GRAND  RESULTS. 


223 


be  done.  God  helping  me,  my  people  shall  he  saved." 
Even  those  ministers  who  are  remarkable  neither  for 
,  ability  nor  culture  can  do  something.  They  may  study 
the  needs  of  the  people.  They  may  search  for  skill  and 
appropriateness.  They  may  be  filled  with  love,  faith, 
action,  and  persistence.  And  they  may  thus  perform 
wonders.  I  knew  a  pastor  of  moderate  ability.  He 
took  the  course  I  have  described.  With  a  great  heart 
full,  with  a  soul  intent,  and  with  a  strong  hold  on  God, 
he  went  to  his  people  in  the  house,  the  prayer-room, 
and  the  pulpit.  He  and  his  church  prayed  and  wrought 
together.  They  were  every  day  laborers  in  the  gospel 
field,  and  they  never  wavered  until  a  great  harvest  of 
souls  was  gathered  into  the  gospel  garner  (Matt.  iii.  12). 
And  now  is  not  Jesus  saying  to  you,  as  he  said  to  the 
lawyer  in  reference  to  the  good  Samaritan,  "  Go  and  do 
thou  likewise  "  (Luke  x.  37)  ? 

GRAND  RESULTS. 

Wliat  wonderful  things  can  a  true,  skilful,  God- 
trusting,  revival  preacher  accomplish  !  In  the  eloquent 
words  of  my  early  and  long-loved  friend,  Dr.  Kirk  of 
Boston  :  "  A  quickened  minister  is  a  polished  mirror  let 
down  from  heaven  to  pour  its  reflected  beams  on  a  sleep- 
ing church,  a  benighted,  sensuous  world.  His  sermons 
are  echoes  of  Sinai  and  Gethsemane,  of  hell  and  heaven. 
His  unpremeditated  addresses  are  powerful  appeals  to 
slumbering  consciences,  or  minute,  appropriate  directions 


224 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


to  the  inquiring  spirit.  His  prayers  are  as  the  coming 
together  of  heaven  and  earth.  He  beholds  tlie  eternal 
majesty.  He  converses  with  the  Most  High."  And  you 
may  become  that  Man  of  God.  And  if  through  your 
sacred  struggles  thousands  of  souls  are  won  to  Jesus, 
they  will  all,  at  the  last  day,  join  you  with  the  great 
throng  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Judge,  and  there  be- 
come "  your  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing  forever  and  ever" 
(1  Thess.  ii.  19). 

EVANGELISTS. 

The  impression  made  by  Whitefield  in  Boston  is  still 
told  by  father  to  son.  His  w^elcome  to  that  city  was 
most  enthusiastic.  State  and  city  ofHcers  were  among 
his  warmest  friends.  Crowds  rushed  to  hear  him,  and  a 
multitude  of  souls  were  born  of  God.  The  place  upon 
tlie  Boston  Mall  is  still  known  where  he  preached  his 
farewell  sermon  to  20,000  people.  The  result  of  his 
three  years'  labor  in  ISTew  England  is  said  to  be  the 
hopeful  conversion  of  50,000  souls,  tlie  formation  of  150 
Congregational  churches,  and  the  increased  prosperity  of 
other  Christian  denominations.  And  this  in  the  days  of 
sparse  population.  Many  of  the  churches  tliat  opposed 
him  were  left  to  leanness  and  decay.  Even  now  this 
man  is  embalmed  in  the  veneration  of  men  in  this  coun- 
try and  in  other  countries.  My  son,  the  Eev.  W.  W. 
Newell,  Jr.,  was  for  years  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  Newburyport,  Mass.,  under  whose  pulpit 


EVANGELISTS. 


225 


the  bones  of  Whitefield  still  repose.  There,  in  my  sum- 
mer visits,  I  have  met  the  pilgrims  to  that  spot.  I  shall 
never  forget  one  evening  in  that  pulpit  with  Sir  Charles 
Reed  of  London,  who  was  to  address  the  gathered  throng. 
As  he  took  up  the  pulpit  Bible  he  said  to  me  in  great 
excitement:  " This  is  Whitefield's  Bible !  How  often, in 
past  years,  has  my  father  [Rev.  Dr.  Andrew  Reed  of  Lon- 
don] told  me  of  his  deep  emotion  on  opening  this  very 
book  in  this  very  pulpit."  Nettle  ton  was  a  very  different 
style  of  man,  but  his  influence  and  success  as  an  Evan- 
gelist in  this  country  was  marvellous.  He  was  a  wise 
impressive,  godly  man.  When  Mr.  Moody  was  finishing 
his  labors  in  Europe  a  meeting  was  called  in  this  city  to 
consider  the  wisdom  of  inviting  him  to  New  York.  Our 
conservative  and  most  reputable  pastors  were  there.  Our 
invitation  to  him  was  una^nimous  and  hearty.  Such  men 
warmly  encouraged  his  labors.  In  Boston  an  enormous 
edifice  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  his  meet- 
ings. These  sketches  establish  the  fact  that  few  Chris- 
tians object  to  such  Evangelists  as  Jonah,  Philip,  Paul, 
Timothy,  Luther,  Whitefield,  Nettleton,  Moody,  Earle, 
and  their  like.  Paul  said  of  Christ :  "  He  gave  some 
Apostles  and  some  Evangelists"  (Eph.  iv.  11).  Said  Paul 
to  Timothy :  "  Watch  thou  do  the  work  of  an  Evange- 
list" (2  Tim.  iv.  5).  Again  it  is  said  of  Paul  and  his 
company  at  Cesarea:  "And  we  entered  into  the  house 
of  Philip  the  Evangelist."  Paul  himself  went  through 
Syria  confirming  the  churches  (Acts  xv.  21).   The  good 


226  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

accomplished  by  wise  and  holy  Evangelists  can  only  be 
fairly  estimated  in  eternity.  One  building  in  Lon- 
don for  Moody  and  Sankey  held  20,000  people.  It  was 
so  crowded  that  thousands  could  not  enter  it.  Among 
the  audience  were  nobles  and  persons  from  the  families 
of  royalty.  The  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  said  to  the  gathered 
crowd:  "I  feel  the  deepest  gratitude  to  Almighty 
God  for  such  men,  with  such  a  message,  delivered  in 
such  a  manner."  We  can  easily  account  for  the  success 
of  such  men.  A  revival  of  religion  is  their  present  and 
avowed  object.  They  work  directly  for  this.  They  draw 
together  the  soldiers  of  the  cross.  They  prepare  and 
enlist  them  warmly  in  the  conflict.  This  is  the  one  secret 
of  their  success.  They  use  certain  truths  and  measures 
which  they  have  found  adapted  to  move  the  world.  They 
have  learned  that  they  can  have  the  divine  influence,  and 
their  faith  secures  it,  while  a  large  audience  may  be 
gathered  by  the  strangeness  of  the  movement  and  the 
efforts  of  God's  children.  I  am  familiar  with  a  place 
where  the  anticipated  coming  of  the  Evangelist  led  the 
church  to  a  confession  of  sin,  to  earnest  prayer,  and  con- 
secration to  God.  Tracts  were  distributed.  The  people 
were  visited  and  invited  to  the  meetings.  The  pastor 
and  the  church  gave  the  Evangelist  a  hearty  welcome. 
They  wrestled  and  toiled  together  in  perfect  liarmony. 
Curiosity  and  interest  were  excited  in  the  comnmnity. 
Intellect  was  awakened.  The  people  assembled  to  hear 
the  new  preacher.   The  man  that  came  was  calculated  to 


EVANGELISTS. 


227 


interest  and  awaken  them.  Their  conversion  to  Christ 
was  liis  intense  aim.  The  whole  village,  with  its  sur- 
roundings, was  moved.  The  meetings  were  continued 
after  his  departure.  The  number  of  converts  was  said 
to  exceed  all  expectation,  and  God's  people  learned  much 
about  the  way  of  saving  souls.  These  statements  lead  us 
to  the  conclusion  that  there  are  churches  that  may  with 
great  advantage  employ  the  services  of  a  judicious  Evan- 
gelist. And  yet  all  Evangelists  are  not  discreet,  and  the 
judicious  Evangelist  cannot  be  had  at  all  times  and  in 
all  places;  and  the  church  that  constantly  depends  upon 
these  labors  will  usually  be  subjected  to  sad  declensions. 
For  they  may  be  long  waiting  for  the  coming  of  their 
favorite  Evangelist,  and  instead  of  being  trained  to 
Christian  labor  the  young  converts  may  sink  into  reli- 
gious apathy.  Throughout  this  and  other  countries  there 
are  waste  places  wdiere  no  pastor  can  be  settled.  It  is 
the  prayer  of  all  true  Christians  that  the  number  of  men 
who  are  set  apart  to  evangelize  these  desolate  regions 
may  be  increased  an  hundredfold. 

In  my  earlier  ministry  I  often  accepted  the  invitation 
of  some  neighboring  pastor  and  went  out  to  his  help. 
By  an  exchange  of  pulpits  on  the  Sabbath  we  some- 
times labored  together  for  two  or  three  weeks.  The 
meetings  elicited  no  opposition,  and  they  were  followed 
by  large  and  important  additions  to  the  churches.  In 
those  days  I  was  sometimes  assisted  in  my  own  church 
by  a  godly  pastor  who  delighted  in  revival  work.  We 


228 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


planned  and  prayed  and  worked  together.  There  was 
greater  variety  in  the  truths  proclaimed.  Force  was 
added  to  each  other's  statements.  There  were  larger 
opportunities  for  personal  appeals  in  the  inquiry-room 
or  at  the  home.  In  such  cases  we  realized  the  wisdom 
of  Jesus  in  sending  forth  "his  disciples  by  two  and  two" 
(Mark  vi.  7).  In  time  we  came  to  see  that  we  had 
within  our  own  church  all  the  human  instrumentality  that 
we  needed  for  the  most  efficient  revival  work.  Our 
young  converts  were  indoctrinated  and  trained  in  Chris- 
tian labors.  Many  outsiders  were  reached.  And  thus, 
according  to  varied  methods  we  have  described  under 
the  head  of  "  How  to  reach  and  keep  young  men,"  we 
every  year  rejoiced  over  a  precious  harvest  of  souls. 


X. 


INQUIRERS. 

There  is  great  variety  in  the  experience  of  persons 
who  are  awakened.  Almost  every  one  needs  some 
specific  directions. 

THE  SKILFUL  DIRECTOR. 

He  needs  the  guidance  of  an  enlightened  Christian. 
In  a  case  of  serious  illness  the  physician,  after  years  of 
study  and  practice,  makes  careful  inquiries  and  adapts 
his  prescription  to  the  peculiarities  of  the  disease. 
Jesus  when  on  earth  met  the  exact  position  of  each  in- 
dividual. The  Christian  who  undertakes  the  guidance  of 
the  awakened  sinner  should  be  filled  with  divine  light. 
There  is  no  business  in  the  world  so  important  and  re- 
sponsible. The  inquirer  should  be  approached  with 
great  tenderness  and  concern.  He  should  be  inter- 
ested and  drawn  to  his  instructor.  Then  his  fears, 
doubts,  difficulties,  false  notions,  and  excuses  should  be 
discovered  and  removed.  God  is  right  and  he  is  wrong. 
How  shall  the  controversy  be  settled  ?  He  should  be 
guided  by  the  experience  of  others  and  the  words  of 
God.  On  this  subject  full  and  varied  prescriptions  have 
been  given  by  others.  Mr.  James  T.  Smith  of  this  city 
has  selected  some  appropriate  texts. 


230 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


HOW  TO  MEET  DIFFICULTIES. 

Is  the  inquirer  afraid  of  what  others  may  say  ?  Would 
he  on  some  occasions  rather  face  the  cannon's  mouth  than 
meet  the  jeers  of  his  companions  ?  Eepeat  to  him  the 
fearful  words  of  Jesus,  "  Whosoever  shall  be  ashamed  of 
me  and  of  my  words,  of  him  shall  the  Son  of  Man  be 
ashamed  when  he  shall  come  in  his  own  glory  "  (Luke 
ix.  26).  Does  he  talk  of  the  inconsistences  of  professed 
Christians  ?  "  Every  one  shall  give  account  of  himself  to 
God  "  (Rom.  xiv.  12).  The  failings  of  others  will  never 
save  him.  Does  he  hesitate  to  give  up  all  for  Christ  ? 
"  For  what  shall  it  profit  a  man  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole 
world  and  lose  his  own  soul  ? "  (Mark  viii.  36).  How 
much  did  Jesus  give  up  for  him !  Does  he  fear  that 
Christ  will  not  receive  so  great  a  sinner?  "The  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin  "  (1  John  i.  7). 
His  entire  ransom  is  paid. 

I  would  answer  other  objections  in  this  way :  "  I  fear 
that  I  shall  not  hold  out."  "  He  which  hath  begun  a 
good  work  in  you  will  perform  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus 
Christ "  (Phil.  i.  6).  Should  you  remain  where  you  are 
you  will  surely  perish.  If  you  trust  in  God  he  says  to 
you,  "  Fear  thou  not  I  will  help  thee ;  yea  I  will  up- 
hold thee"  (Isai.  xli.  10),  "My  grace  is  sufficient  for 
thee  "  (2  Cor.  xii.  9).  —  "I  am  doing  my  best.  What 
more  can  be  done  ? "  "  For  whosoever  shall  keep  the 
whole  law,  and  yet  offend  in  one  'point,  he  is  guilty  of 


HOW  TO  MEET  DIFFICULTIES.  231 

all"  (James  ii.  10).  Jesus  is  to  save  you.  —  "I  have 
tried  to  come  to  Jesus.  I  liave  failed."  Stop  trying. 
The  command  of  Jesus  is :  "  Come,  come,  come  to  me 
and  be  ye  saved.  Ye  will  not  come  to  me  that  ye 
might  have  life."  Arise  and  go  to  him.  Throw  yourself 
into  his  open  arms.  "The  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  "  (Eom.  vi.  23).  Will 
you  accept  the  infinite  gift  ?  You  are  not  to  answer, 
"  I  will  try  to  do  it,"  but  you  are  to  say  from  the  heart, 
"  0  Lord,  I  will  and  I  do  now  come  to  trust  thee  for 
pardon  and  eternal  life."  Mr.  Spurgeon  says  :  "  I  heard 
a  man  preach  from  the  text,  '  Look  unto  me  and  be  ye 
saved '  (Isai.  xlv.  22).  Fixing  his  eyes  on  me,  he  said, 
*  Young  man,  look  !  look  !  look  !  "'  At  that  moment 
young  Spurgeon  did  look,  and  a  bright  glory  filled  his 
darkened  soul.  He  looked,  and  trusted  and  loved  the 
Saviour.  And  so  may  the  inquirer.  Does  he  refuse  to 
take  up  his  cross  ?  "  And  whosoever  doth  not  bear  his 
cross  and  come  after  me  cannot  be  my  disciple  "  (Luke 
xiv.  27).  I  remember  a  proud,  rich  parishioner  who 
came  to  me  in  anxiety.  He  wanted  to  be  saved.  He 
acknowledged  that  he  ought  to  pray  with  his  family, 
bnt  he  utterly  refused  to  do  it.  He  went  back  to  the 
world  and  seemed  to  die  as  he  had  lived.  Christ  says, 
"  Let  him  deny  himself  and  take  up  his  cross  daily  and 
follow  me "  (Luke  9.  22).  Another  parishioner  w^as 
willing  to  pray  with  his  young  family  and  perform 
Christian  duty.    Still  he  was  unhappy.    At  my  urgent 


232  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

request  he  thus  described  his  difficulty  :  "  Unbeknown 
to  my  neighbor,  some  of  his  property  has  come  into 
my  possession,  and  I  have  never  told  him  of  it,  and 
when  I  kneel  to  pray  with  my  little  family  this  always 
comes  up  to  me."  But,"  I  said,  "  my  dear  sir,  you  must 
disclose  this  fact  to  your  neighbor.  '  He  that  covereth 
his  sins  shall  not  prosper,  but  whoso  confesseth  and  for- 
saketh  them  shall  have  mercy'"  (Prov.  xxviii.  13).  He 
made  confession  to  his  neighbor,  paid  him  the  debt,  and 
went  on  his  way  a  useful  Christian  man.  This  world 
and  its  wealth  were  to  him  a  secondary  thing.  We  can 
make  no  arrangement  with  God  for  the  continuance  of 
any  sin.  It  must  be  a  complete  surrender  of  our  all  to 
him.  Another  finds  it  hard  to  submit  to  the  will  and 
providence  of  God :  "  Submit  yourselves  therefore  to 
God"  (James  iv.  7).  Yea,  let  your  cry  go  up  with 
the  great  throng  in  heaven.  " '  Alleluia !  for  the 
Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth  '  (Eev.  xix.  6)  —  reign eth 
over  me." 

THE  FAILURE  OF  INQUIRERS. 

There  are  a  great  many  anxious  people  who  will 
never  reach  heaven.  God's  sovereignty  does  not  stand 
in  their  way.  "He  would  have  all  men  to  be  saved" 
(1  Tim.  ii.  4).  The  Holy  Ghost  waits  to  be  cherished. 
Jesus  came  to  seek  and  to  save  the  lost,-  and  yet  he  is 
saying  to  these  inquirers,  as  he  said  to  the  Jews,  "Ye 
shall  seek  me  and  shall  die  in  your  sins"  (John  viii. 


THE  FAILURE  OF  INQUIRERS.  233 


21).  One  person  is  occasionally  impressed.  But  it  is 
like  the  writing  upon  the  sand  of  the  seashore.  The 
next  tide  obliterates  it.  The  alarm  of  another  is  hushed 
by  his  ignorance  or  skeptical  doubts.  Another  has 
waited  until  the  pressure  of  business  is  driving  away 
every  rising  anxiety.  Others  are  clinging  to  some  sinful 
indulgence.  Others  cling  to  the  world.  The  supreme 
love  of  wealth,  fashion,  and  all  of  earth  must  be  aban- 
doned for  Christ,  "  Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  Mammon." 
Others  will  not  find  Christ,  because  they  have  a  wrong 
idea  of  his  requirements.  Instead  of  resting  in  Christ 
as  their  Saviour  they  are  reading  and  praying  and  try- 
ing to  be  so  good  that  God  will  be  pleased  to  save 
them  for  their  good  deeds.  In  referring  to  Jesus, 
Peter  said  to  the  rulers  and  elders,  "Neither  is  there 
salvation  in  any  other,  for  there  is  none  other  name 
under  heaven,  given  among  men,  whereby  we  must  be 
saved"  (Acts  iv.  12).  Others  simply  wish  to  be  saved. 
They  have  no  confidence  in  Jesus  and  no  desire  to  serve 
him.  Others  are  looking  to  some  friend  or  minister  to 
save  them.  I  have  seen  persons  in  deep  distress  so  per- 
fectly infatuated  with  dependence  on  man  that  they  never 
found  Christ.  Others  are  entirely  discouraged.  Their 
frequent  anxieties  are  all  in  vain,  and  so  they  are  giving 
up  the  favor  of  God,  eternal  life,  and  a  throne  in  glory, 
while  Jesus  is  saying  to  them,  "  Ye  will  not  come  to 
me  that  ye  might  have  life"  (John  v.  40).  Says  another 
"  I  would  like  to  be  a  Christian,  but  I  have  no  feeling 


234  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENl 

upon  the  subject."  If  that  is  so  he  can  have  no  hope 
of  heaven.  But  mere  anxiety  does  not  save  from  a  burn- 
ing house  or  from  a  threatened  hell.  I  have  seen  a  per- 
son overwhelmed  with  tears  and  terror  who  never  found 
Jesus.  Now  if  he  has  feeling  enough  to  escape  the  wrath 
to  come  and  the  condemnation  of  a  holy  God,  let  him 
deplore  his  sins  and  let  him  go  to  the  loving  Jesus  who 
is  saying  to  him,  "Come  unto  me  and  be  ye  saved,  come 
now,  come  just  as  you  are."  In  all  these,  and  other 
cases,  sinners  must  be  shown  that  Jesus  is  not  hard  to 
be  found,  that  he  longs  to  save  them,  that  he  waits  to 
be  gracious,  and  that  their  delay,  distrust,  and  wrong- 
seeking  are  the  only  obstacles  in  the  way  of  their  salva- 
tion. They  have  only  to  accept  his  invitation,  rest  their 
all  in  him,  and  they  are  positively  accepted. 

WEIGHTY  MOTIVES. 

In  the  first  place  the  inquirer  must  be  shown  his 
danger.  He  cannot  trifle  with  God.  He  must  see  that 
while  Jesus  is  saying  to  him,  "  Ye  shall  seek  me  and 
shall  die  in  your  sins,"  some  fiendish  enemy  of  his  soul 
is  whispering  in  his  ear  this  excuse,  "You  may  be- 
come a  Christian  and  yet  postpone  the  subject  until 
to-morrow."  And  this  excuse  this  enemy  proposes  to 
urge  until  he  can  exult  over  his  hopeless  ruin.  This 
hour  he  may  grieve  away  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  his  to- 
morrow may  be  one  eternal  day  of  anguish  and  despair. 
"  This  moment,"  says  Edwards,  "  the  sinner  is  stand- 


WEIGHTY  31 OT IVES. 


235 


ing  over  the  mouth  of  hell,  upon  a  single  plank,  and  that 
plank  is  rotten.  He  is  hanging  over  the  jaws  of  perdi- 
tion by  a  single  rope,  and  that  rope  is  now  breaking." 
He  must  be  shown  his  sin.  His  whole  responsible  life 
has  been  a  scene  of  disobedience  to  God,  and  "  God  noiu 
commandeth  him,  and  all  men  everywhere,  to  repent " 
(Acts  xvii.  30).  He  must  hate  his  sin  and  turn  from  it. 
God  also  says  :  "  To-day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice  harden 
not  your  hearts"  (Heb.  iii.  15).  Another  moment  of 
neglect  is  horrible  rebellion.  It  is  high-handed  robbery, 
for  God's  brightest  jewels  on  earth  are  the  loving  hearts 
of  his  children.  He  should  noiv,  in  penitence,  bow  at 
the  foot  of  the  cross  and  yield  to  God  his  love,  his  con- 
fidence, and  his  service.  And  here  again  he  must  be 
shown  the  infinite  tenderness  of  Jesus,  and  his  infinite 
readiness  to  give  him  welcome.  Jesus  died  for  him. 
I  was  once  passing  over  the  mountains  of  Italy  with 
my  family.  We  came  to  a  dark  place  wdiere  a  man  had 
been  seized  and  carried  away  to  the  caves  of  the  earth. 
There  he  was  a  prisoner.  Finally  a  rich  friend  advanced 
a  large  sum  of  money,  and  the  man  was  released.  Did 
he  refuse  to  escape  ?  How  he  rushed  away  to  his  friend, 
crying  "I  am  ransomed,  I  am  saved."  Thus  you  have 
been  carried  away  captive  by  the  Adversary ;  but  Jesus 
gave  his  life  "a  ransom  for  many."  Yes,  the  ransom 
is  paid.  The  way  of  escape  is  clear.  Induce  the  sin- 
ner, just  as  he  is,  to  kneel  now  and  yield  up  his  stricken 
soul  to  the  Lord,  to  venture  upon  him  wholly,  and  he 


236  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

shall  be  welcomed,  pardoned,  and  saved ;  for  "  ye  shall 
seek  me  and  find  me  when  ye  shall  search  for  me  with 
all  your  heart "  (Jer.  xxix.  13)  ;  "  him  that  cometh  to 
me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out "  (J ohn  vi.  37). 

INQUIRY-MEETINGS. 

Among  the  anxious  we  see  a  vast  amount  of  darkness, 
error,  and  apology.  It  is  this  that  makes  a  personal  talk 
with  the  inquirer  quite  indispensable.  After  the  most 
powerful  and  pointed  preaching  it  is  often  found  that 
every  inquirer  present  had  some  difficulty  to  be  removed. 
That  difficulty  should,  if  possible,  be  discovered  and  re- 
moved at  once.  A  young  man  was  so  affected  at  one  of 
our  evening  services  that  on  his  way  home  he  kneeled 
twice  on  the  sidewalk  and  prayed  to  God.  In  a  short 
time  his  impressions  wore  away.  Months  after  he  went 
from  an  evening  service  into  our  inquiry-room.  There  he 
found  the  Saviour,  and  at  once  began  to  study,  with  the 
ministry  in  view.  Mere  preaching  is  not  sufficient.  A 
friend  of  mine  has  told  me  of  an  able  pastor  in  Great 
Britain  who  complained  that  no  one  was  converted  by 
his  preaching.  An  inquiry-meeting  in  the  vestry  at  the 
close  of  the  preaching-service  was  recommended  to  him. 
Eight  persons  came  at  once.  Forty  came  the  second  time. 
In  six  months  he  was  rejoicing  over  the  hopeful  salvation 
of  eight  hundred  souls.  Many  sinners  have  found  the 
Saviour  while  calling  at  the  pastor's  house  at  an  ap- 
pointed time.    And  yet,  betvv^een  the  Sabbath  and  that 


VARIOUS  PASTORAL  EFFORTS.  237 

evening,  cares  of  this  world  and  the  lusts  of  other 
things  may  choke  the  word  (Markiv.  19).  Others  may 
have  some  delicacy  about  entering  the  house  of  a  min- 
ister. I  have  known  a  man  to  walk  fifteen  minutes  to 
and  fro  in  front  of  such  a  meeting,  but  he  never  rang 
the  bell.  Dr.  French  of  Bergen  has  told  me  of  a  very 
impressive  meeting  with  his  young  people.  When  about 
to  dismiss  them  a  minister  who  was  present  said  to  him  : 
"  Suppose  you  invite  them  to  remain  for  conversation 
and  prayer  ? "  This  was  done.  The  Spirit  was  with 
them ;  and  numbers  that  day  found  the  Saviour. 

THE   METHOD    OF   DKS.    PAXTON,    TYNG,  CUYLER, 
AND  KITTREDGE. 

At  a  meeting  of  our  Pastors'  Association  I  remember 
to  have  heard  the  Rev.  Dr.  Paxton,  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Clmrch  in  this  City,  describe  a  peculiar 
meeting  of  very  special  interest.  He  said  :  "  One  Sab^ 
bath  evening  at  Pittsburg,  Penn.,  I  observed  an  un- 
usual interest  in  the  congregation.  At  the  close  of  the 
service  I  requested  the  church  to  remain  for  prayer. 
All  the  others  were  invited  to  accompany  me  to  the 
lecture-room.  That  room  was  filled.  The  Kev.  Dr. 
Plumer  was  present  and  remained  standing  by  the  door. 
After  prayer  I  assumed  the  position  of  an  inquirer,  and 
put  to  him  the  questions  which  they  might  desire  to 
ask.  These  questions  the  Doctor  answered.  The  people 
listened  to  that  venerable  patriarch  as  if  he  had  been 


238  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

an  angel.  That  meeting  is  still  spoken  of  as  one  of  the 
most  impressive  ever  held  in  that  church."  Sometimes, 
when  I  could  not  converse  with  all  the  inquirers,  Chris- 
tians who  were  among  them,  and  knew  their  difficulties, 
would  ask  me  in  their  hearing  how  I  would  answer  this 
and  that  objection.  In  that  way  a  large  number  would 
be  reached.  Br.  Paxton  also  thus  described  another  of 
his  meetings  for  inquirers :  "  On  the  Sabbath  before  the 
sacrament  I  preached  an  appropriate  sermon,  and  closed 
with  an  appeal  to  those  still  out  of  the  church.  I  then 
gave  notice  of  an  inquiry-meeting  on  Monday  evening, 
and  I  invited  to  this  meeting  those  who  thought  of 
making  a  profession  of  religion,  and  those  who  were 
thinking  seriously  of  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  My 
object  was  to  make  to  them  a  brief,  pungent,  and  pointed 
address  on  the  way  of  salvation  and  the  nature  of  a 
union  with  the  church.  I  dwelt  upon  the  importance 
of  religion,  their  condition  as  sinners,  and  the  way  of 
salvation  through  Jesus  Christ.  I  explained  the  evi- 
dences of  Christian  character  and  the  nature  of  the 
Lord's  Supper.  I  then  requested  the  assembly  to  spend 
a  few  moments  in  silent  prayer,  and  urged  them  to  com- 
mit their  souls  to  Christ.  During  this  prayer  many 
souls  have  passed  from  death  unto  life.  I  can  recom- 
mend this  meeting  as  one  of  the  most  efficient  means 
I  have  ever  known  of  bringing  halting  souls  to  Jesus." 
The  Doctor  added :  "  Sometime  since  a  young  man  from 
Pittsburgh  called  on  me  and  said :  '  I  once  entered  the 


VARIOUS  PASTORAL  METHODS.  239 

gallery  of  your  cliurcli  a  thoughtless  man.  The  in- 
vitation for  Monday  evening  riveted  the  thoughts  of  the 
sermon ;  and  when  you  turned  to  the  gallery  and  waved 
your  hand,  and  urged  every  young  man  to  come,  my 
heart  filled  up  and  I  resolved  to  go.  At  that  meeting  I 
bowed  my  head  in  silent  prayer,  and  gave  my  soul  to 
Christ.  From  that  hour  I  have  enjoyed  a  Christian 
hope.'  On  bidding  me  farewell  he  shook  my  hand  cor- 
dially and  said,  '  I  hope,  sir,  you  will  never  give  up 
those  meetings.'  "  Dr.  Stephen  H.  Tyng,  Jr.,  of  this  city 
has  in  his  church,  on  Sunday  night,  what  he  calls  "  the 
People's  Service."  Popular  tunes  are  sung  by  the  choir 
and  the  congregation,  and  the  preaching  is  illustrative. 
Strangers  are  met  at  the  door  by  a  board  of  ushers  who 
receive  no  compensation.  They  try  to  discover  whether 
the  strangers  belong  to  the  city.  If  they  do,  and  have 
no  church  connection,  their  name  and  address  are  re- 
ported to  the  pastor  on  Monday  morning.  This  service 
is  followed  by  an  informal  prayer-meeting  in  the  church. 
Men  of  other  denominations  are  often  asked  to  lead  in 
prayer.  This  service  is  followed  by  an  inquiry-meeting. 
The  results  of  these  Sabbath-evening  inquiry-meetings 
are  found  to  be  especially  profitable,  from  the  fact  that 
inquirers  are  more  easily  led  to  decide  for  Christ  while 
the  solemn  impressions  of  the  Sabbath  services  are  still 
in  full  force.  On  Monday  night  there  is  a  meetiug  held 
for  young  converts,  inquirers,  and  recent  church-mem- 
bers.  This  is  also  followed  by  an  inquiry-meeting.  He 


240  EEVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

lias  a  meeting  once  a  month  for  the  training  of  young 
converts  wlio  have  come  into  the  church  within  two 
years.  The  roll  is  called  ;  the  absent  are  visited.  A  band 
of  workers  look  after  inquirers  and  young  couN  erts.  They 
try  to  prepare  them  to  unite  with  the  church.  This  is 
felt  to  be  ver^r  important.  In  fact  Dr.  Tyng  sometimes 
has  meetings  of  some  kind  every  evening  in  the  week. 
In  some  years  hundreds  are  brought  to  the  Saviour. 
Bev.  Dr.  T.  L.  Cuyler,  pastor  of  the  Lafayette  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Ohurch,  BrooMyn,  N.  Y.,  in  seasons  of  re- 
vival has  a  meeting  on  Tuesday  evening  for  boys  be- 
tween twelve  and  seventeen  years  of  age.  In  this 
meeting  there  is  an  opportunity  for  personal  conversa- 
tion. On  Wednesday  afternoon  the  superintendent  holds 
a  meeting  of  the  Sabbath-school  for  prayer  and  inquiry. 
In  the  evening  of  Wednesday  there  is  a  general  preach- 
ing-service for  the  congregation,  followed  by  an  inquiry- 
meeting  in  the  adjoining  study.  On  Friday  evening  the 
general  prayer-meeting  is  also  followed  by  a  meeting 
for  inquirers.  These  measures,  accompanied  by  faithful 
preaching  and  active  labors,  have,  with  the  blessing 
of  God,  built  up  a  church  of  seventeen  hundred  and 
sixty-one  members.  Br.  A.  E.  Kittredgc  of  Chicago  finds 
the  service  for  the  impenitent,  on  Sabbath  evening,  a 
grand  means  of  success.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting 
members  of  the  church  take  their  friends  into  the  in- 
quiry-meeting while  they  are  impressed.  Thus  the 
Tempter  is  thwarted.    The  mind  is  kept  to  the  subject. 


LETTERS  AND  BOOKS. 


241 


The  special  prayer-meeting  of  the  week  is  on  Wednes- 
day evening.  The  pastor  occopies  ten  or  fifteen  min- 
utes. Then  the  time  is  all  taken  np  with  testimony, 
prayer,  and  singing.  The  pastor  mentions  tlie  page  of 
the  hymn,  and  leads  the  singing  without  delay.  He 
procures  the  name  and  residence  of  persons  who  attend 
his  meetings,  in  order  that  he  may  see  them  during  tlie 
week.  He  accomplishes  much  by  effort  with  individ- 
uals. He  has  won  many  to  the  Saviour  by  writing 
them  letters,  and  following  them  up  with  conversation 
and  prayer. 

LETTERS  AND  BOOKS. 

I  may  add  that  a  kind,  tender,  faithful  letter  may  be 
decidedly  useful.  To  some  persons  the  subject  could  in 
this  way  be  pressed  with  the  greatest  fulness  and  force. 
It  would  be  read  in  private.  There  would  be  no  sense 
of  publicity  or  intrusion.  In  the  same  way  appro- 
priate and  impressive  reading  has  accomplished  wonders. 
Where  a  Christian  has  little  time  or  opportunity  to  con- 
verse faithfully  with  individuals,  he  can  hand  them  a 
small  book  or  tract  just  adapted  to  the  sinner's  condition. 
It  may  be  the  very  best  and  most  appropriate  thing  that 
a  man  of  experience  can  write.  I  know  of  such,  little 
books  or  tracts  that  have  shown  many  a  soul  the  way 
to  Jesus.  It  is  indeed  most  astonishing  that  all  Chris- 
tians who  desire  the  rescue  of  the  perishing  should  not 
use  this  simple  means  of  salvation.    It  is  a  means  that 


242 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


can  be  used  by  the  old  and  the  young.  And  if  the  gift 
is  accompanied  by  a  few  earnest  words  and  a  silent  or 
spoken  prayer,  the  result  may  bring  joy  to  angels  and 
to  men. 


XI. 

FIXED  LAWS  FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF  REVIVALS. 

In  another  chapter  I  have  endeavored  to  show  that 
in  ordinary  circumstances  we  may  have  a  revival  of 
religion.  There  is  no  true  revival  without  the  divine 
influence.  But  God  is  everywhere  and  in  everything. 
He  is  also  a  God  of  law  and  order.  All  the  natural 
laws  by  which  he  rules  the  world  are  sublimely  exact. 
In  obedience  to  these  laws  we  secure  the  fruits  of 
the  earth  and  the  fruits  of  the  intellect.  Through  cer- 
tain influences  we  have  revivals  of  religion.  In  this 
exalted  work  why  may  not  God  have  a  sure  way  ? 
Indeed,  cause  and  effect  are  more  sure  in  the  spiritual 
than  in  the  material  world,  because,  in  reference  to 
spiritual  work,  God  has  made  definite  promises.  I  was 
once  told  by  a  clergyman  that  God,  in  his  sovereignty, 
was  as  likely  to  convert  men  by  the  genealogies  of  the 
Bible  as  by  any  other  means.  All  experience  gives  the 
lie  to  this  absurdity.  A  man  may  be  awakened  by 
thoughts  of  the  past  dead.  But  God  usually  employs 
means  best  adapted  to  the  end.  With  God,  right  reason 
and  wisdom  are  preferable  to  folly.  He  has  said,  "  He 
that  winneth  souls  is  wise  ;  "  and  he  has  given  us  truths 
exactly  adapted  to  awaken  and  win  men. 


244 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


THERE  MUST  BE  A  WAY  OF  OBTAINING  THIS  BLESSING, 

He  has  threatened  the  sinner  with  destruction,  and 
the  stupid  churcli  with  ruin,  and  the  under-shepherd 
with  fearful  responsibility  for  the  entire  flock.  There 
must  be  a  way  of  avoiding  these  penalties.  In  conver- 
sation with  ministerial  brethren  on  this  subject  they 
have  made  in  substance  such  statements  as  these :  "  Tlie 
words  of  Jesus  to  Nicodemus,  '  The  wind  bloweth  where 
it  listeth,'  &c.,  do  not  refer  to  the  sovereignty  of  God  in 
sending  the  Spirit,  but  to  the  fact  that  the  operations  of 
the  wind  and  the  Spirit  are  to  us  a  mystery.  It  would 
be  very  singular  for  God  to  instruct  us  how  to  get  a 
harvest,  and  how  to  get  on  in  the  world,  and  yet  neglect 
to  show  us  how  to  do  the  greatest  of  all  things, — that  is, 
the  winning  to  Christ  of  the  souls  for  which  he  died. 
It  would  be  strange  indeed  if  the  whole  scheme  of 
redemption  should  be  formed  and  executed  for  the  sav- 
ing of  men,  and  that  Christ  should  commission  his  dis- 
ciples to  go  forth  and  evangelize  the  world,  w^ith  the 
promise  of  his  presence  and  guidance,  when  there  w^as 
no  sure  way  of  doing  it." 

True  prayer  is  one  of  the  first  means  which  God  lias 
ordained  for  the  securement  of  a  revival.  This  brings 
us  into  riglit  relations  with  him,  for  "  the  Spirit  itself 
maketh  intercession  for  us  "  (Eom.  viii.  26).  In  this 
spiritual  work  prayer  is  as  much  a  part  of  God's  plan 
as  gravitation  is  in  the  natural  world,  and  they  are  both 


THE  WAY  DESCRIBED. 


245 


as  sure  as  the  eternal  throne.  God  never  gives  faith 
and  toil  and  wisdom  for  naught.  When  they  are  given 
the  revival  has  begun.  And  when  Christian  forces  are 
concentrated  the  hardest  sinners  may  be  converted. 

THE  WAY  DESCRIBED  AND  ILLUSTRATED. 

In  a  revival  of  religion  there  is  deep  feeling.  This 
may  be  produced  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  cause 
and  effect.  We  have  an  emotional  nature,  a  conscience, 
and  a  love  of  self  Feeling  may  be  aroused  by  impor- 
tant truth,  a  critical  situation,  the  loss  of  fortune,  a 
dying  child,  fear  of  evil,  the  kindness  of  a  friend,  the 
future  prospect  of  sinners,  and  the  hope  of  pardon. 
But  the  mind  must  dwell  upon  these  matters.  This 
is  essential  to  spiritual  success. 

Thouglit  and  feeling  are  two  things,  but  they  move 
each  other.  Christians  and  sinners  have  a  strong 
impulse  about  these  eternal  verities  ;  but  directly  it 
vanishes.  There  is  no  action.  The  minds  of  others 
are  held  by  these  truths.  They  reflect  and  plan  and 
use  the  means.  Their  prayers  and  tears  are  all  for  the 
honor  of  Jesus  and  the  rescue  of  the  perishing.  And 
so  the  blessing  comes.  Does  it  come  independently 
of  God's  sovereignty  and  God's  Spirit  ?  By  no  means. 
God  says,  Ask  and  receive."  His  Word  is  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit  (Eph.  vi.  17).  And  the  promise  of  that 
Spirit  is  Christ's  legacy  to  his  disciples.  Man  has  a 
sympathetic  nature.    It  is  one  of  the  laws  of  our  men- 


246  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

tal  economy,  and  it  is  a  mighty  power  in  religion. 
God  presses  it  into  his  service.  It  affects  the  uncon- 
verted. Mind  communicates  with  mind,  and  heart  with 
heart,  and  feeling  with  feeling.  And  in  this  way  myri- 
ads of  souls  are  converted  to  Christ  who  have  resisted 
all  other  motives.  Sometimes  the  conversion  of  a  man 
will  affect  his  own  and  several  associated  families.  It 
accords  with  Imman  nature  to  feel  deeply  in  masses. 
"  Organized  efforts,  massed  energies,  union  of  forces,  are 
most  effective."  I  may  add  that  striking  illustrations 
of  these  remarks  are  abundant. 

LINCOLN,    GARFIELD,     LAFAYETTE,  WEBSTER, 
FITZHUGH  LEE. 

At  the  death  of  Lincoln  persons  at  the  North  were 
so  wild  with  emotion  that,  with  streaming  eyes  and 
bated  breath,  they  ran  from  house  to  house  carrying  the 
shocking  news.  And  so  at  the  shooting  of  President 
Garfield.  It  excited  the  tenderest  sympathies  of  this 
and  of  every  civilized  country  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
And  so  men  are  moved  by  the  eternal  wretchedness  of 
a  single  soul  when  they  at  all  understand  and  consider 
the  reality  of  the  event. 

The  corner-stone  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument  was  laid 
in  my  boyhood.  General  Lafayette  was  there,  and 
Daniel  Webster  delivered  his  masterly  oration.  In  the 
Revolutionary  War  some  of  our  ancestors  had  bled  and 
died  on  that  spot,  and  when  fifty  thousand  of  us  rose 


LINCOLN  AND  GARFIELD. 


247 


up  and  sang  Old  Hundred,"  it  seemed  like  the  mighty 
surges  of  the  great  sea-waves.  As  time  rolled  on,  the 
South  severed  the  nation.  The  great  battle  for  Union 
was  fought  and  won.  In  time  an  anniversary  was  to 
be  kept  at  the  Bunker  Hill  Monument.  To  the  sur- 
prise of  the  i^orth,  General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  with  his  con- 
quered soldiers,  came  on  from  South  Carolina  to  this 
celebration.  As  they  marched  through  the  streets  to 
Bunker  Hill,  Boston  was  on  fire  with  enthusiasm.  The 
rush  and  shout  of  the  great  crowd  was  deafening.  Once 
more  they  were  brothers.  Again  they  were  to  be  loving 
citizens  of  a  united  country. 

By  the  same  laws  of  our  spiritual  nature  the  deep 
religioits  emotions  of  men  are  excited.  When  the  Old 
and  E'ew  School  General  Assemblies  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  met  in  Philadelphia,  and  there  became  one 
again,  Jesus  stood  in  their  midst.  It  was  an  enthusias- 
tic revival  of  Christian  sympathy  and  brotherly  love. 
So  the  pastor  and  his  church  are  awakened,  and  through 
them  the  impenitent  are  moved.  This  is  true  philoso- 
phy.   This  is  the  ordinary  history  of  revivals. 

T  know  a  man  of  prayer  and  faith  and  toil.  His 
whole  heart  is  fixed  upon  the  conversion  of  souls.  He 
lays  his  plans  in  full  view  of  circumstances.  His  reli- 
ance on  God  is  so  perfect  that  he  goes  forward  without 
a  seeming  thought  of  failure.  His  success  is  marvellous. 
So  with  a  multitude  of  pastors  and  churches.  If  then 
you  would  have  a  revival  of  religion,  be  yourself  right 


248  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

with  God  and  man.  Determine  to  receive  this  blessing 
from  above.  Understand  the  fixed  laws  of  revivals. 
Let  the  preaching  and  the  methods  be  exactly  adapted 
to  the  desired  results,  just  as  politicians,  solicitors,  men 
of  business,  and  evil  spirits  study  and  plan  and  adopt 
the  wisest  means  to  secure  their  ends.  Arouse  every 
energy  of  your  own  being.  Bring  together  tiie  forces. 
Unify  the  church.  Awaken  their  sympathies.  Toil 
together  for  the  ungodly.  Plead  with  God.  Satan 
understands  the  philosophy  of  revivals.  And  when  you 
are  opposed  by  him,  and  when  obstructions  are  thrown 
in  your  w^ay  and  your  faith  is  tried,  never  be  disheart- 
ened, but  press  onward,  looking  to  that  God  who  com- 
manded liis  people  to  go  forward  right  into  the  Ked  Sea. 
When  the  outlook  is  dark,  always  remember  that  there 
is  a  brilliant  sun  behind  the  cloud.  This  cause  is  more 
precious  to  Jesus  than  it  is  to  you.  Indeed  you  have 
his  promise  :  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway  ! "  (Matt,  xxviii. 
20).  Eelying  on  him,  hold  the  minds  of  the  people 
steadily  and  vividly  to  these  sublime  and  affecting 
truths,  and  they  will  become  to  them  a  stupendous  and 
saving  powder. 

GETTING  UP  A  REVIVAL. 

One  of  the  most  fiendish  devices  of  the  Adversary,  for 
the  ruin  of  souls,  is  pressed  into  these  four  w^ords. 
While  all  the  world  is  crowding  onward  in  one  blaze 
of  excited  effort,  the  cry  of  Satan  to  the  Christian  is. 


GETTING  UP  A  REVIVAL. 


249 


"Keep  quiet,  you  are  getting  up  a  revival."  I  reply 
to  him  :  "  Yes,  politicians  get  up  a  strong,  excited  party. 
In  our  last  war  patriots  raised  an  enormous  army. 
Christians  propose  to  be  as  wise  as  the  children  of 
light.  Mere  animal  excitement  is  a  snare  and  a  failure. 
In  getting  up  a  revival  we  get  upon  our  knees  to  bring 
one  down  from  heaven.  God  loves  to  give  this  blessing. 
He  moves  his  children  to  seek  it.  He  commands  them 
to  have  it.  He  indeed  complains  that  none  stirreth 
up  himself  to  take  hold  of  God  (Isai.  Ixiv.  7).  '  Turn 
you  at  my  reproof ;  behold  I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit 
unto  you '  (Prov.  i.  23)."  And  so  God's  children  turn  at 
his  reproof  They  stir  up  themselves  and  others  to  take 
hold  of  God.  They  humbly  confess  their  sins,  pleading 
his  promise,  and  wisely  using  his  appointed  means  to 
move  others.  Who  can  object  to  this  ?  What  could  be 
more  entirely  philosophic,  legitimate,  or  Scriptural  ? 

Under  the  guidance  and  aid  of  God's  Spirit,  Chris- 
tians are  bound  to  do  this  work  with  the  greatest  possi- 
ble force.  Time,  money,  brains,  and  strength  are  to  be 
employed  with  the  utmost  tact  and  persistence.  How 
many  times  do  I  recall  when  a  feeling  of  want  and  a 
sense  of  sinful  neglect  has  come  over  the  pastor.  H-e 
has  turned  to  God;  he  has  revealed  himself  to  some 
Christians,  They  have  considered  the  matter;  they 
have  deplored  their  condition;  they  have  met  for 
prayer ;  they  have  humbled  themselves,  and  pleaded  for 
a  blessing.    Means  were  used  for  moving  the  ungodly. 


250  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

I  never  remember  one  instance  where  such  means  were 
used  in  my  own  parish  that  the  blessing  was  withheld. 
Sometimes  in  our  revivals,  so  gotten  up,  the  power  of 
divine  influence  lias  been  perfectly  sublime.  This  royal 
road  to  success  is  within  the  reach  of  the  most  depressed 
or  fastidious  church.  Unbelief,  unfruitfulness,  and  self- 
gratulation  are  colossal  evils.  Nothing  must  satisfy  us 
until  the  Lamb  of  God  is  enthroned  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people. 

REVIVAL  SINGING. 

Sacred  music  is  an  almost  indispensable  factor  in 
revivals  of  religion.  It  deeply  imprints  upon  the  soul 
the  sentiment  of  the  words  sung.  It  is  appointed  of 
God.  Paul  says  to  the  Colossians,  admonisli  "  one 
another  in  psalms  and  hymns  and  spiritual  songs, 
singing  with  grace  in  your  hearts  "  (Col.  iii.  16).  He 
also  says  to  the  Ephesians,  "  Sing,  making  melody  in 
your  hearts  to  the  Lord"  (Eph.  v.  19).  True  music  is 
heart-moving.  It  promotes  and  expresses  emotion ;  it 
touches  the  social  feelings ;  it  produces  Christian  sym- 
pathy and  brotherly  love ;  it  honors  and  magnifies  the 
Lord  of  Hosts.  In  times  of  self-abasement  and  mourn- 
ing before  God  the  plaint  may  hush  the  song.  The 
harp  may  hang  upon  the  willows "  (Ps.  cxxxvii.  2). 
Yet  in  time  singing  will  prove  a  great  promoter  of 
revival  interest.  Ever  since  the  morning-stars  sang  to- 
gether there  has  been  more  or  less  music  on  earth. 


CHAPEL  MUSIC. 


251 


And  from  the  days  of  Moody  back  to  the.  time  of 
Luther,  and  even  to  Hezekiah,  prominent  revivalists 
have  been  greatly  aided  by  sacred  song.  The  psalms 
are  full  of  music  and  praise.  And  how  the  sweet  min- 
strel of  Israel  exulted  in  song.  There  is  music  in 
heaven.  There  they  sing  the  new  song.  And  why 
may  not  those  who  have  loved  the  songs  of  Zion  here 
sing  together  there  with  an  exuberance  of  joy  unreached 
by  others  ? 

Mr.  Oliver  Shaw  of  Providence,  K.  I.,  was  a  man  of 
exquisite  taste  and  refinement.  He  was  the  composer 
of  a  sweet  and  original  volume  of  music.  Among  his 
pieces  were  "  Mary's  Tears,"  "  Nothing  true  but  Heaven," 
&c.  As  he  was  bidding  adieu  to  eartb,  as  he  was 
passing  up  the  heavenly  w^ay,  he  seemed  to  be  listen- 
ing to  its  raptures.  Suddenly  he  turned  back  to  earth 
and  whispered  to  his  weeping  companion,  "  After  my 
precious  Saviour  I  shall  look  for  David."  In  the  sanc- 
tuary service  the  organ,  the  choir,  and  the  congregation 
should  all  unite  in  the  praises  of  the  Lord. 

CHAPEL  MUSIC. 

In  our  Evangelistic  prayer-meetings  we  had  the 
church  and  the  w^orld.  For  these  meetings  we  made 
thorough  preparation.  We  often  met  previous  to  the 
opening  and  learned  tunes  and  words.  We  had  a  leader 
and  a  few  singers  together.  In  the  opening  piece  we 
used  the  book  and  the  instrument.    Then  the  books 


252  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

were  thrown  aside.  The  leader  did  not  distract  the 
attention  by  saying,  "  We  will  sing  hymn  one  hundred 
and  forty-six,  long  metre,  on  page  seventy,  omitting 
the  fourth  verse,"  but  the  meeting  progressed  with  no 
delay.  The  leader  or  pastor,  or  some  one,  commenced 
to  sing  words  and  tune  that  were  exactly  adapted  to 
the  previous  remarks  or  to  the  prayer.  In  this  song 
the  congregation  heartily  joined. 

Sometimes  this  may  be  done  in  the  sanctuary.  I 
remember  a  communion  service  where  our  house  was 
crowded,  and  more  than  one  hundred  converts  had 
stood  up  to  avouch  tlie  Lord  to  be  their  God.  Finding 
it  impossible  to  express  all  that  was  in  my  heart,  or  to 
meet  the  exigencies  of  the  case,  I  repeated  the  wwds, 
"  Jesus  sought  me  when  a  stranger,  wandering  from  the 
fold  of  God,"  and  the  refrain  "  Yes,  w^e  '11  gather  at  the 
river."  I  then  commenced  the  tune  so  familiar  to  us 
all.  And  as  volley  after  volley  rolled  up  from  that 
immense  crowd,  tears  flowed,  imagination  soared,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  the  gates  were  opened,  and  that  Jesus  had 
come  down  to  our  midst,  and  that  w^e  were  praising  him 
with  every  faculty  of  our  being.  That  singing  moved 
and  elevated  the  hearts  of  that  throng  as  no  words  or 
tears  of  mine  could  possibly  have  done.  By  attractive 
music  thousands  have  been  drawn  to  religious  meet- 
ings; and  there,  with  softened  feelings,  many  of  them 
have  found  the  Saviour.  It  strengthens  courage  and 
faith ;  it  uplifts  the  soul  in  trouble.    How  many  when 


WOMAN'S  WORK  IK  REVIVALS.  253 

djiiig_have  said  to  those  around  tbem,  "  Sing."  True 
music  on  the  Sabbath,  at  week-night  meetings,  and  in 
the  household,  is  a  delightful  means  of  religious  pros- 
perity. Every  preacher  and  every  child  of  God  should, 
if  possible,  be  a  good  singer.  At  that  most  solemn  of 
all  communion  services  Christ  himself  sang;  and  his 
disciples  who  have  indifferent  music  know  not  what 
they  lose.  Money,  time,  and  energy  are  all  well  spent 
in  perfecting  the  followers  of  Jesus  in  sacred  song. 

woman's  woek  in  revivals. 

On  this  subject  a  volume  might  be  written.  I  have 
referred  to  her  influence  in  household  and  Sabbath- 
school  revivals.  But  there  is  no  limit  to  the  jDower  she 
can  wield  in  the  Bible-Class,  the  prayer-room,  the  social 
circle,  the  mission  field,  and  the  temperance  movement. 
She  has  energy,  persistence,  and  tact.  How  Mary  Mag- 
dalene electrified  the  disciples  by  her  glad  news  of 
Christ's  resurrection.  How  Esther  saved  her  nation  by 
her  trust  in  God,  and  her  wonderful  skill  in  the  man- 
agement of  Haman  and  the  King!  AVhat  a  precious 
revival  followed  the  conversion  and  attended  the  labors 
of  that  unhallowed  woman  of  Samaria  !  Think  of  those 
women  who  labored  with  Paul.  In  their  personal 
efforts  they  risked  their  own  lives  to  succor  the  perish- 
ing (Eom.  xvi.).  In  the  days  of  Whitefield,  Lady  Hunt- 
ingdon is  said  to  have  given  half  a  million  of  dollars 
for  chapels,  ministers,  and  revival  work.    By  prayer  and 


254  EEVIVALS:  HOW  AXD  WHEN? 

toil  with  the  impenitent  she  and  other  ladies  of  rank 
were  zealous  promoters  of  the  glorious  revivals  that 
j)revailed  in  those  days.  I  have  known  Christian 
women  who  taught  Bible-classes  composed  of  young- 
men.  They  were  thoroughly  prepared  on  the  lessons ; 
they  drew  out  the  views  of  their  classes ;  they  enlisted 
them  in  the  evening  meetings ;  they  invited  them  to 
their  homes  ;  they  made  them  special  objects  of  prayer ; 
and,  with  the  co-operation  of  their  husbands  and  the 
church,  these  souls  were  won  to  the  Saviour,  and  were 
prepared  to  become  zealous  workers  in  the  prayer-room 
and  the  Sabbath-school. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  ENERGY  OF  ^VO:\IAN. 

The  influence  of  woman  is  most  effective  and  essen- 
tial in  the  family  circle.  Says  a  pastor :  "  Three  hun- 
dred and  ten  of  the  three  liundred  and  eighty  persons 
whom  I  have  welcomed  to  the  church  were  the  children 
of  pious  mothers."  What  results  would  follow  the  con- 
secration of  all  Christian  mothers  to  this  sublime  ob- 
ject !  During  my  pastorate  in  the  city  of  Boston  there 
was  a  young  woman  in  my  church  who,  with  a  few 
others,  was  in  the  habit  of  calling  upon  the  neglecters 
of  the  sanctuary.  She  gathered  up  a  Bible-class  tliat 
was  finally  composed  of  icives,  mothers,  and  housekeepers. 
In  this  class  there  were  about  seventy  persons.  She 
always  made  a  careful  and  prayerful  preparation.  She 
was  conscious  of  divine  assistance.    She  became  per- 


CHRISTIAN  ENERGY  OF  WOMAN.  255 


sonally  acquainted  with  the  religious  state  of  every 
member  of  the  class,  and  labored  most  prayerfully  for 
their  conversion.  One  year  fifteen  members  of  the  class 
embraced  the  Saviour.  In  this  work  she  was  full  of 
enthusiasm  and  joy.  She  is  still  the  teacher  of  that 
class.  ^N^otwithstanding  constant  changes,  nearly  all  the 
class  are  zealously  at  work  for  the  Saviour.  For  many 
years  this  woman,  now  Mrs.  B.,  has  been  president  of 
the  Union  Maternal  Association  of  Boston.  Years  ago 
she  helped  to  form  the  Woman's  Missionary  Board  con- 
nected with  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 
She  was  their  first  and  still  is  their  very  efficient  presi- 
dent. Five  years  ago  they  had  in  this  country  fourteen 
hundred  organizations  and  near  five  hundred  mission 
circles.  In  foreign  countries  they  had  sixty-seven  mis- 
sionaries, fifty-eight  Bible-readers,  eighteen  boarding- 
schools,  and  forty-nine  day-schools.  Their  influence  in 
Turkey,  Japan,  and  India  is  amazing.  By  religious  in- 
struction, personal  appeals,  and  much  secret  and  social 
prayer,  quiet  revivals  of  religion  are  being  extensively 
enjoyed  in  these  mission  stations.  Their  collections  in 
ten  years  amounted  to  nearly  half  a  million  of  dol- 
lars. Boston  is  also  the  centre  of  a  Woman's  Home 
Missionary  Society.  Their  missionaries  are  doing  a 
grand  work  in  different  States  of  the  Union.  The 
Ladies'  Presbyterian  Board  of  Missions  in  New  York 
includes  the  home  and  foreign  field.  Their  president  is 
Mrs.  J.  Lorrimer  Graham.    They  have  a  large  number 


256  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

of  auxiliary  societies,  scholarships,  missionaries,  teach- 
ers, and  Bible-readers.  Among  other  places  their  for- 
eign work  is  prospering  in  Syria,  Persia,  China,  Japan, 
India,  Africa,  Mexico,  and  France.  In  the  home  field 
they  are  doing  good  woriv  in  New  Mexico,  Alaska,  Utah, 
Kentucky,  and  North  Carolina.  Persons  engaged  in 
these  foreign  and  home  missions  di-aw  the  people  to 
themselves  by  loving  words  and  kind  acts.  They  in- 
strnct  them  in  the  arts  of  civilized  life ;  they  talk  to 
them  of  their  danger,  their  guilt,  and  their  loving  Sa- 
viour. There  is  not  often  among  them  scenes  of  great 
excitement ;  but  it  is  said  that  in  time  almost  every 
pupil  that  remains  in  the  schools,  besides  some  of  the 
adults,  are  brought  to  a  saving  lajowledge  of  Christ. 
There  are  some  heroic  women,  sustained  by  both  these 
foreign  boards,  that  remind  us  of  Apostolic  days.  They 
have  pursued  their  work  of  love  in  the  midst  of  fam- 
ine, cholem,  and  the  sword. 

THE  SKILL  OF  WOMAN. 

The  subtle  insight,  the  natural  grace,  and  the  tender 
emotion  of  woman  render  her  singularly  skilful  in  reach- 
ing the  lost  either  at  home  or  abroad.  She  is  very 
acceptable  and  efficient  as  a  Christian  visitor.  During 
the  day  she  finds  the  home  principally  occupied  by 
women  and  children.  She  can  understand  tlieir  con- 
dition ;  she  can  adapt  herself  to  their  wants.  If  they 
are  poor  she  can  help  to  clothe  and  instruct  the  children. 


THE  SKILL  OF  WOMAN. 


251 


She  can  lead  them  in  prayer,  and  leave  them  a  tract  or 
a  Bible ;  she  can  become  the  trusty  friend  of  the  family. 
If  afflicted  she  can  soothe  their  sorrow.  She  can  ac- 
company them  to  the  church,  the  Sabbath-scliool,  and 
the  religious  meeting:  she  can  plead  and  labor  for 
them  until  they  are  plucked  as  brands  from  the  burning. 
How  many  boys  and  men,  young  and  old,  have  been 
saved  by  her  earnest  and  appropriate  efforts.  Yea,  how 
many  preachers  of  the  gospel  would  have  perished  but 
for  her  prayers  and  tearful  persuasions.  It  is  a  serious 
time  in  a  boy's  liistory  when  he  is  about  to  enter  col- 
lege. I  shall  never  forget  how  a  loving  sister  urged  me, 
at  that  critical  moment,  to  attend  religious  meetings, 
and  how  she  helped  me  to  the  blessed  Saviour.  But 
w^oman's  influence  is  not  confined  to  children  and  youth. 
Men  that  seem  farthest  from  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
have  been  reached  by  woman,  and  by  her  won  to  the 
Saviour.  Eev.  E.  D.  Murphy  is  pastor  of  the  Mariners' 
Church  in  this  city.  In  this  work  he  is  efficiently 
aided  by  discreet  and  godly  women  who  seem  to  be 
following  the  example  of  Phebe,  Priscilla,  and  Persis, 
who,  as  helpers  of  the  Apostle,  "  labored  much  in  the 
Lord"  (Eom.  xvi.).  These  women  go  into  the  streets 
and  boarding-houses  and  converse  with  the  sailors. 
They  invite  them  to  the  Sabbath  service,  the  Sabbath- 
school,  and  to  the  meetings  that  are  held  every  evening 
in  the  week.  They  labor  with  them  in  the  inquiry- 
rooms,  and  thus  crowds  of  them  become  new  men  in 


258  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN* 

Christ  Jesus.  As  helpers  of  the  pastor  and  the  church 
these  women  are  highly  respected.  And,  as  there  is 
constantly  new  material,  it  may  perhaps  be  said  that 
they  are  enjoying  a  continual  revival.  Last  year  eighty- 
nine  persons  joined  this  Mariners'  Church,  and  four 
hundred  and  six  were  received  on  probation.  Quite  a 
number  of  these  were  captains  and  mates  of  vessels. 

MATERNAL    ASSOCIATIONS    HAVE    PROVED    A  PRECIOUS 
MEANS  OF  SALVATION. 

Mothers  come  together  and  unburden  their  heavy 
hearts.  They  confer  together  in  reference  to  difficul- 
ties, encouragements,  and  the  best  means  of  winning 
the  children  to  Christ,  and  of  training  them  in  the  nur- 
ture and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  Fervent  prayers  are 
offered  for  each  family.  Their  interest  and  sympathies 
are  quickened,  and  their  courage  and  faith  are  intensified. 
Occasionally  the  children  assemble  with  their  parents. 
Here  instruction  is  given  and  efforts  are  made  to  lead 
them  to  the  Saviour. 

SCHOOLS  FOR  YOUNG  WOMEN  AFFORD   GREAT  FACILITIES 
FOR  REVIVAL  WORK. 

I  remember  when  Miss  Mary  Lyon  was  going  from 
town  to  town  in  New  England  to  secure  means  to 
found  the  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary  at  South  Hadley, 
Mass.  This  place  was  near  to  the  banks  of  the  Con- 
necticut Eiver.    Three  hundred  pupils  were  gathered 


SCHOOLS  FOR  YOUNG  WOMEN.  259 

there.  Her  prayer  was  that  "  not  one  of  them  should 
fail  of  eternal  life."  The  means  used  for  this  result 
were  Sabbath  services,  prayer- meetings,  addresses,  and 
private  labor  with  individuals.  The  lukewarm  and 
the  careless  alike  trembled  in  view  of  their  sin  and 
danger.  With  the  colleges  they  observed  the  last 
Thursday  in  February  as  a  season  of  fasting  and  prayer. 
On  one  of  those  occasions  the  whole  school  was  deeply 
affected.  After  prayers  for  one  liour  the  meeting  closed, 
but  no  one  left  the  room.  Seasons  of  prayer  and  per- 
suasion continued  from  day  to  day  until  all  but  one 
had  hope  in  Christ.  Prayer  for  her  was  afterward 
answered.  These  revival  seasons  continued  from  year 
to  year.  Miss  Lyon  has  gone  to  her  reward,  but  her 
mantle  has  fallen  upon  her  successors. 

The  academy  for  young  women  at  Bradford,  Mass.,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Merrimac  Eiver,  is  nearly  eighty  years 
old.  Their  present  building,  with  its  appurtenances,  has 
cost  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  dollars.  A  few 
years  since  I  attended  one  of  their  anniversaries.  The 
young  ladies  of  the  Senior  Class  were  all  dressed  in 
white.  They  were  all  blessed  with  singular  intelli- 
gence and  hopeful  piety.  While  sitting  upon  that  stage 
I  thought  of  the  wonderful  succession  of  revivals  there. 
I  thought  of  Harriet  ISTewell,  Ann  Judson,  Mrs.  Spauld- 
ing,  and  the  immense  throngs  of  converts  who  have 
gone  out  from  that  sacred  spot. 

Then  I  remembered  a  conversion  there  with  which 


260 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


I  had  become  familiar.  A  young  woman  from  a  gay 
family,  belonging  to  a  Unitarian  congregation,  was  con- 
verted here.  Through  her  influence  sisters  and  friends 
here  found  Christ.  Every  member  of  her  father's 
family,  and  many  connected  with  it,  have  followed  Jesus. 
Through  agencies  started  at  her  conversion  the  circle  of 
new-born  souls  is  largely  and  constantly  extending. 

Wellesley  College,  near  Boston,  founded  and  superin- 
tended by  tlie  late  Mr.  Durant,  is  constantly  crowded 
with  young  women,  and  is  blessed  with  remarkable  sea- 
sons of  religious  interest.  So  it  is  with  other  schools. 
How  strange  it  is  that  Christian  parents,  instead  of 
sending  their  daughters  to  fashionable  schools,  do  not 
have  them  educated  in  such  institutions  as  these. 


xn. 


TEMPERANCE  REVIVALS. 

Revivals  have  much  to  do  with  temperance.  "  Nor 
drunkards  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God"  (1  Cor.  vi. 
10).  Revivals  are  needed  to  reform  and  save  the  intem- 
perate. They  are  needed  to  arrest  the  progress  of  im- 
mense crowds  that  are  thronging  the  gilded  way  to 
inebriety.  Nothing  stands  more  solidly  in  the  way  of 
Christ's  cause  than  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks.  It 
draws  away  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  men  to  their 
animal  nature,  and  thus  enslaves  and  debases  them.  It 
ruins  some  church-members  and  sweeps  into  perdition 
crowds  of  sinners.  This  obstacle  the  church  of  Christ 
can  and  must  remove. 

THE  HON.  W.  E.  DODGE. 

In  a  most  admirable  paper  upon  this  subject,  read  by 
Mr.  Dodge  at  the  Presbyterian  Council  in  Philadelphia, 
September,  1880,  he  says:  "It  is  estimated  by  the  Inte- 
rior Department  that  the  direct  and  indirect  loss  to 
this  country  in  one  year,  fi'om  alcoholic  beverages,  is 
fourteen  hundred  millions  of  dollars.     This  involves 


262  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WIIENf 

pernicious  politics,  poverty,  crime,  and  tlie  annual  death 
of  one  hundred  thousand  persons."  Mr.  Dodge  believes 
that  tens  of  thousands  of  our  church-members  use  and 
offer  to  others  this  ruinous  beverage,  —  and  that  they 
yearly  spend  more  for  this  object  than  they  do  for  both 
home  and  foreign  missions.  I  may  add,  this  is  a  war  be- 
tween Christ  and  Satan.  To  gain  a  victory,  the  church 
must  abjure  alcoholic  drinks.  Indeed  we  see  not  how  any 
minister  or  follower  of  Christ  can  cling  to  this  habit,  and 
peril  his  own  character  and  the  souls  of  weak  members, 
when  he  is  to  put  no  stumbling  or  occasion  to  fall  in  his 
brother's  way  (Eom.  xiv.  21),  "  and  when  he  is  to  eat  and 
drink  and  do  all  things  to  the  glory  of  God."  Precept 
and  example  must  go  together.  We  want  to  save  others. 
We  want  to  convert  individuals  to  total  abstinence. 
How  can  a  moderate  drinker  do  that  ?  I  have  known  a 
circle  of  young  men  to  call  for  strong  drink,  and  hurrah 
for  the  Christian  man  who  advocated  the  use  of  wine. 

THE  HONEST  JUDGE. 

Many  years  ago  Judge  Hubbard  of  Boston  was  a 
prominent  Christian  man.  One  day  he  said  to  his  wood- 
sawyer:  "Sam,  why  do  you  ruin  yourself  with  drink?" 
Sam  looked  up  archly  and  said:  "Judge,  do  you  drink 
your  wine  ? "  "Yes." — "Well,  you  give  up  your  wine  and 
I  will  give  up  my  whiskey."  The  Judge  immediately 
drew  up  a  pledge  to  total  abstinence,  which  they  both 
signed.    Temperance  excitements  may  be  vastly  useful. 


THE  BEST  METHODS. 


263 


but  gospel  temperance  is  a  true  and  lasting  benefit  to 
those  who  are  entering  these  paths  of  death  from  the 
homes  of  the  good  and  the  bad.  Let  every  Christian 
have  the  self-denying  spirit  of  the  Master.  Let  him 
kneel  at  the  foot  of  the  cross  and  exclaim:  "O  Lamb 
of  God,  direct  and  help  me !  I  take  up  my  cross  to 
draw  precious  souls  into  the  strait  and  narrow  way!" 

THE  BEST  METHODS. 

The  grand  means  of  a  temperance  revival  are  precept, 
prayer,  and  example.  The  minister  of  Christ  must 
preach  to  the  church  on  the  subject  of  Paul's  Christian 
expediency.  He  must  enforce  the  duty  of  Christian  ex- 
ample and  Christian  influence.  He  must  reason  with 
the  people,  as  Paul  reasoned,  on  righteousness,  temper- 
ance, and  judgment  to  come,  until  Felix  trembled  (Acts 
xxiv.  25).  He  must  show  them  that  "whosoever  touch- 
eth  wine  and  strong  drink  may  be  deceived  thereby" 
(Prov.  XX.  1).  But  mere  preaching  is  insufficient.  Very 
much  may  be  accomplished  by  kind,  faithful,  and  persist- 
ent conversation.  There  must  also  be  fervent  prayer. 
Evangelistic  prayer-meetings,  from  night  to  night,  are 
especially  valuable.  These  should  be  followed  by  inquiry- 
meetings,  as  every  fallen  man  may  have  peculiar  diffi- 
culties, and  may  have  need  of  special  sympathy  and 
help.  In  these  meetings  the  fallen  may  be  reclaimed,  and 
interest  in  the  cause  of  temperance  may  be  intensified. 


264 


EEVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


AN  AFFECTING  CASE. 

One  day  niy  door  bell  rang,  and  a  good-looking  stran- 
ger called  for  me.  I  found  him  suffering  from  fits  of 
dissipation.  After  earnest  conversation  and  prayer  I 
said  to  him :  "  Come  down  to  our  Evangelistic  prayer- 
meeting  to-night  and  tell  your  story,  and  try  to  get  the 
help  of  Jesus."  At  that  meeting  he  arose  and  said :  "  I 
have  been  a  salesman  in  a  dry-goods  store  in  this  city. 
I  am  now  turned  out  of  my  situation  for  intemperance. 
I  have  not  seen  my  family  for  days.  In  a  fit  of  despair 
this  morning  I  determined  to  drown  myself.  Just  as  I 
was  throwing  myself  from  the  dock  a  text,  that  my 
mother  taught  me  when  a  boy,  came  to  my  mind.  I 
instantly  turned  away,  and  having  heard  that  your  pas- 
tor was  interested  in  the  fallen,  I  hurried  to  his.  house. 
My  friends,  I  want  help.  I  want  to  be  a  Christian. 
Will  you  pray  for  me  ? "  Amid  that  praying  there  were 
but  few  dry  eyes.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  I  took 
his  arm  and  said :  "  I  will  go  home  with  you."  He 
shrank  back,  but  soon  yielded.  As  we  opened  the  door 
of  a  respectable  room  three  children  were  lying  upon 
the  floor,  and  the  mother  was  swaying  to  and  fro  with  an 
infant  in  her  arms.  She  was  a  picture  of  despair.  I  said 
to  her:  "I  have  brought  your  husband  home  to  you." 
But  she  moaned  out:  "We  are  cold,  we  are  starving, and 
he  does  not  care ;  I  have  no  hope,  no  hope,  no  hope."  I 
answered :  "  Your  husband  has  promised  never  to  taste 


THE-  HOME  FOR  INEBRIATES.  265 

another  drop  of  alcohol,  and  he  has  been  to  our  meet- 
ing and  asked  God  and  his  people  to  help  him,  and  you 
and  I  must  help  him.  Now  let  us  kneel  down  and  estab- 
lish here  the  family  prayer."  That  man  luas  a  Chris- 
tian. Our  session  gave  that  man  a  hearty  welcome  to 
the  church,  and  he  often  took  part  in  our  prayer-meet- 
ings. He  found  a  good  situation.  His  two  nicely 
dressed  little  girls  came  to  our  Sabbath- school,  while  he 
and  his  happy  wife  had  a  pew  in  our  sanctuary.  The 
conversion  of  this  man  not  only  resulted  in  good  to  him- 
self, to  his  household,  and  to  his  companions,  but  it 
greatly  deepened  the  interest  of  our  people  in  the  cause 
of  gospel  temperance.  Eeformed  drunkards  may  be 
valiant  workers.  What  living  man  has  moved  so  many 
hearts,  and  effected  so  much  for  the  cause  of  temperance, 
as  that  reformed  drunkard,  John  B.  Gough  ?  The  testi- 
mony of  reformed  drunkards  thrilled  the  crowds  that 
gathered  at  Mr.  Moody's  temperance  meetings  in  New 
York  and  Boston. 

THE  HOME  FOR  INEBRIATES. 

A  very  dissipated  man,  whom  I  knew  at  the  time  of 
his  conversion,  now  presides  at  the  New  York  Chris- 
tian Home  for  Intemperate  Men.  When  a  drunkard 
enters  this  establishment,  this  man  converses  and  prays 
with  him,  and  does  not  rest  until  the  drunkard  bows  at 
the  foot  of  the  cross.  With  my  friend.  Dr.  S.  Irenseus 
Prime,  I  once  attended  one  of  their  prayer-meetings. 


266 


RE  VI VALS :  HO  W  AND   WHEN  ? 


While  ten  or  fifteen  reformed  men  were  speaking  of  their 
dark  wanderings,  and  testifying  to  the  infinite  love  of 
Jesus  in  their  conversion,  I  sat  and  wept  like  a  child. 

Each  person  has  something  to  do.  Here  are  our  five 
hundred  thousand  drunkards  rushing  down  to  perdition, 
followed  by  an  army  of  moderate  drinkers.  Here  are 
crowds  of  persons  whose  hearts  are  wrung  with  anguish 
over  their  ruined  husbands  or  children.  Let  the  follow- 
ers of  Jesus  look  at  this  sight  till  their  souls  are  on  fire 
with  zeal  for  their  deliverance.  Seek  out  the  fallen. 
Love  them.  They  may  be  persons  of  natural  ability 
and  kindliness  of  disposition.  Help  them.  Instruct 
and  warn  them.  Pray  with  and  for  them.  Lead  them 
to  the  Saviour.  Gather  them  into  the  prayer-meetings. 
Discover  their  hindrances.  Encourage  them  to  give 
their  testimony  to  the  love  of  Jesus,  and  to  commence 
earnest  labor  for  the  rescue  of  others.  Have  faith  in 
God.  Eemember  that  the  vilest  may  be  saved.  "  Jesus 
can  break  the  chain  of  the  tiger." 

THE  CHILDREN  MUST  BE  SECURED. 

"Formation  is  easier  and  better  than  transformation." 
The  reform  of  the  drunkard  is  not  the  most  easy  and 
successful  work.  The  children  and  the  youth  must  be 
saved  and  warmly  enlisted  in  this  cause.  How  many 
young  persons  commence  the  use  of  alcohol  and  tobacco 
without  a  thought  of  its  fearful  results!  They  think 
that  they  can  stoj)  at  any  moment.    I  know  a  youth 


INSTANCES  OF  MARKED  SUCCESS.  267 


that  was  offered  $1,000  if  he  would  give  up  the  use  of 
tobacco.  The  money  was  deposited  in  his  name.  In  a 
few  days  he  returned  the  money,  with  the  remark,  "  I 
cannot  give  up  the  habit."  He  is  now  the  slave  of  to- 
bacco and  alcohoKc  drinks.  The  boys  must  be  saved ! 
They  must  not  begin  the  habit.  Here,  again,  Dr.  Cuy- 
ler's  illustration  is  most  impressive.  He  says  a  man  was 
saved  by  herculean  efforts  while  being  swept  over  the 
Falls  of  Niagara.  He  adds  :  "  Let  the  mass  of  the  peo- 
ple go  five  miles  above  the  cataract,  and  stop  the  child- 
ren and  youth  from  throwing  themselves  into  the  rapids." 
Through  the  church  this  land  should  be  aroused.  There 
should  be  household  and  Sabbath  and  day-school  asso- 
ciations or  Bands  of  Hope,  with  every  suitable  effort  to 
gain  the  young.  Some  youth  might  take  part  in  their 
meetings,  and  all  of  them  should  be  enlisted  in  the 
work  of  gaining  others.  Total  abstainers  must  be  en- 
couraged, and  moderate  drinkers  must  be  reclaimed. 
There  should  be  zealous  temperance  organizations  in 
every  church.  Sabbath  and  day  school.  Suitable  reading 
and  speaking  should  be  provided.  This  fellowship  would 
greatly  increase  the  influence  of  Christians.  In  many 
places  the  people  of  God  have  done  this  work  with  the 
happiest  results. 

INSTANCES  OF  MARKED  SUCCESS. 

In  this  city  Eev.  Charles  H.  Pay  son  and  his  people 
pursued  this  course,  and  gathered  in  their  active  tem- 


268  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

perance  organizations  over  a  thousand  members.  Among 
other  means  the  Eev.  Dr.  Cuyler  of  Brooklyn  has  fre- 
quent and  crowded  meetings  in  his  church,  addressed 
by  the  ablest  speakers.  His  associations  number  sev- 
eral thousand  persons.  Rev.  Newman  Hall  of  London 
has  fifty  temperance  gatherings  each  year,  with  eight 
thousand  pledged  abstainers.  In  Pittsburg,  Penn.,  more 
than  fifty  thousand  persons  have  recently  signed  the 
temperance  pledge.  The  people  must  be  enlightened 
and  moved.  Temperance  reading  for  the  young  and 
the  old  must  be  circulated.  Happily  the  National  Tem- 
perance Society,  No.  58  Eeade  St.,  New  York,  are,  with 
great  pains  and  expense,  printing  an  immense  variety 
of  the  most  interesting,  able,  and  low-priced  papers, 
tracts,  and  books  that  should  be  scattered  broadcast 
over  the  land.  Let  the  children  of  God  be  aroused 
and  intent  upon  grand  achievements.  Let  them  con- 
tinue this  work  from  year  to  year  with  a  revival  in- 
terest for  Christ  and  souls,  and  these  dram-shops  would 
soon  be  closed.  With  the  disappearance  of  these  schools 
of  infamy,  these  gates  of  perdition,  the  way  of  the 
churches  would  be  opened  to  an  unexampled  prosperity. 

woman's  temperance  revivals. 

The  true  woman  is  especially  influential  in  this  cause, 
both  by  precept  and  example.  She  instructs  and  enlists 
the  young.  She  never  offers  alcoholic  drink  to  others. 
The  late  lamented  Dr.  J.  G.  Holland,  of  tliis  city,  in- 


WOMAN'S  TEMPERANCE  REVIVALS.  269 


sisted  that  "  woman  alone  could  make  the  drinking  of 
wine  unpopular."  He  wrote  this  sentiment  in  Mrs. 
Hayes's  album.  From  the  scourge  of  intemperance 
woman  is  an  acute  and  prolonged  sufferer.  A  few 
years  ago  her  influence  \^'as  prominent  in  a  wonderful 
temperance  revival  in  the  Southwest.  There  was 
very  earnest  personal  work.  Said  a  woman  to  Mrs. 
Leavitt  of  Cincinnati :  "  My  husband  is  so  harsh  and 
cruel  I  am  going  to  leave  him.  Good-by."  Mrs. 
Leavitt  rapped  at  that  man's  door  and  inquired  of  the 
little  girl  for  her  father.  "  Tell  her,"  said  the  father, 
"  I  will  not  see  her."  "  Tell  him,"  said  Mrs.  L.,  "  I  will 
stay  here  till  supper  time."  He  knew  there  would  be 
no  supper,  so  he  said,  "  Come  in."  She  said,  "  I  come  to 
you  in  all  kindness,  and  T  want  you  to  sign  this  tem- 
perance pledge."  "  I  won't  sign  away  my  liberties."  — 
"  Do  you  get  your  liquor  at  the  corner  store  ? "  "  Yes." 
—  "  So  you  love  the  saloon  man  better  than  yourself." 
"No,  I  don't." — "Well,  I  have  just  seen  him,  a  nice 
portly  man.  Now  look  at  yourself.  He  has  a  fine  house ; 
now  look  at  yours.  And  you  love  his  little  girl  better 
than  your  own."  "  I  don't,"  he  said  gruffly.  —  "  Well,  I 
have  just  seen  her  with  a  new  white  dress  and  a  new 
sash  and  shoes.  Now  look  at  yours.  His  girl  is  helped 
by  your  money.  And  you  love  his  wife  better  than 
your  own."  "No,  I  don't."  —  "Well,  she  is  out  riding, 
dressed  in  nice  silks  and  laces.  Now  look  at  the  wife 
that  has  just  left  you."   "  Madame,"  said  the  man,  "  you 


270 


MEVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


tell  the  truth."  — "  Well,  will  you  sign  the  pledge  ?  " 
"  Wait  till  I  get  a  glass  of  grog  to  keep  this  hand 
steady."  —  "  Oh,"  said  she,  "  you  are  bound  hand  and 
foot.  Yet  One  can  help  you.  Let  us  kneel  down  and 
pray  to  him."  "  I  have  not  prayed  since  I  was  a  boy." 
But  he  knelt,  and  after  prayer  he  cried  in  anguish : 
"O  God!  break  these  chains  I  make  me  a  free  man!'^ 
He  rose  up  a  new  creature.  Three  weeks  from  that 
time  a  tall  man  came  down  the  aisle  with  a  little  girl 
in  a  white  dress  and  a  blue  sash.  The  child  went  into 
Mrs.  Leavitt's  Sabbath-school  class,  the  man  joined  the 
Bible-class.  In  due  time  this  man  with  his  three  daugh- 
ters stood  up  in  the  church  and  avouclied  the  Lord  to 
be  their  God.  The  despairing  wife  had  returned  to  find 
her  blighted  home  an  earthly  paradise.  A  few  years 
since,  women  were  most  active  in  a  wonderful  temper- 
ance revival  at  the  Southwest.  In  their  combined 
efforts  there  were  prayer  and  song  and  earnest,  per- 
sistent entreaty.  The  results  were  stupendous.  In 
1874,  while  this  work  was  spreading,  two  thousand 
liquor  saloons  were  closed.  Fifty  towns  and  cities 
were  freed  from  the  rum  traffic.  Some  jails  were 
empty.  Alcoholic  drinks  were  tabooed,  and  worthy 
emigrants  settled  in  the  towns.  In  one  month  Ohio 
lost  $360,000  on  their  liquor  tax.  Thus  the  way  was 
prepared  for  religious  quickening.  Stimulated  by  these 
successes  Christian  women,  as  well  as  men,  prayed  and 
toiled  for  the  salvation  of  souls.    Mind  was  aroused, 


WOMAN'S  TEMPERANCE  REVIVALS. 


271 


churches  were  crowded,  and  great  multitudes  turned 
to  the  Lord.  Hardened  sinners,  liquor-sellers,  and 
drunkards  confessed  Christ  together.  The  cause  of 
temperance  still  progresses.  The  work  is  organized 
and  systematic.  One  of  their  annual  conventions  at 
the  West  was  recently  attended  by  a  hundred  and  thirty 
delegates  from  eighteen  different  States.  In  many  hun- 
dreds of  temperance  unions  "  woman  is  foremost  in  every 
good  word  and  work."  Her  active  influence  is  said  to 
have  had  much  to  do  with  the  late  success  of  prohibi- 
tion in  Kansas  and  Iowa. 


XIII. 


WHEN  SHOULD  WE  HAVE  REVIVALS? 

I  WILL  here  intimate  briefly  a  few  things  described 
at  length  in  the  foregoing  pages.  And  I  now  say  de- 
cidedly, God  helping  us,  we  should  have  revivals  from 
year  to  year.  Such  a  revival  is  plainly  no  spasm,  no 
outbreak  of  strange  tongues,  no  transient  excitement 
followed  by  disastrous  inefficiency,  no  tremendous  effort 
of  the  church  succeeded  by  the  quiet  of  dead  Ortho- 
doxy and  the  chill  of  young  converts.  These  are  the 
things  that  so  often  bring  a  stigma  upon  the  whole 
subject.  In  revivals  from  week  to  week  and  year  to 
year  the  church  cherishes  an  awakened  spirit.  This 
is  its  regular,  normal  condition.  In  some  cases  it  is  a 
quiet,  even,  but  quickened  and  successful  effort  for  the 
conversion  of  souls  from  year  to  year.  In  other  cases  it 
is  more  like  an  annual  ingathering.  Jesus  once  likened 
the  salvation  of  the  gathered  crowd  to  a  harvest,  and 
he  charged  his  disciples  to  pray  the  Lord  to  send  forth 
laborers  into  this  plentiful  harvest  .  (Matt.  ix.  38). 
Paul  says  to  the  Corinthians,  "Ye  are  God's  hus- 
bandry." A  harvest  is  the  product  of  plan,  tillage, 
seed-sowing,  culture,  and  the  ingathering  of  the  fruits. 


WHEN  TO  HAVE  REVIVALS. 


2T3 


In  this  way  some  churches  labor  for  a  yearly  ingath- 
ering of  souls.  While  there  is  a  constant  dependence 
on  the  Spirit  of  God  and  a  constant  seeking  for  the  sal- 
vation of  men,  there  is  a  wise  and  diligent  preparation 
for  a  more  abundant  harvest. 

It  is  vastly  desirable  that  the  people  should  be 
strengthened  for  the  work  and  that  the  field  should 
be  enlarged.  Magic  influences  are  acquired  by  the 
culture  of  man's  social  nature.  Strangers  may  be  in- 
troduced to  young  people's  associations,  neighborhood 
prayer-metings,  and  congregational  sociables.  Friendly 
calls  may  be  made  ;  an  attractive  course  of  Sabbath  after- 
noon or  evening  sermons  may  be  delivered.  All  this 
is  done  to  enlarge  the  harvest  of  souls.  The  stony, 
ground  is  being  prepared.  The  pastor,  with  his  con- 
gregation and  Sabbath-school,  may  all  engage  in  this 
preparatory  work.  In  this  way  the  people  are  united 
and  strengthened,  while  crowds  of  outsiders  are  at- 
tracted. This  work  is  followed  by  the  usual  Week  of 
Prayer.  Miscellaneous  matters  are  disposed  of,  and  the 
church,  like  the  Apostles  and  the  women  previous  to 
the  Pentecost,  may  continue  "  with  one  accord  in  prayer 
and  supplication  "  (Acts  i.  14). 

And  now  comes  the  first  indispensable  act.  In  hum- 
ble contrition  the  pastor  must  lay  himself  on  God's 
altar.  He  must  tenderly  lead  the  churcb  to  self-hu- 
miliation and  a  loving,  trustful  consecration  to  Christ 
and  his  work.     The  evenings  are  now  long,  business 


274  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

is  slack  and  the  way  is  now  prepared  for  divine  and 
human  influence.  The  ordinary  means  of  grace  may 
now  be  increased.  Preaching  services  or  Evangelistic 
prayer-meetings  may  now  be  held  each  afternoon  or 
evening  during  most  of  the  week.  The  great  thought 
and  aim  is  now  the  present  conversion  of  souls.  Thus 
every  year  the  spiritual  interest  is  to  be  intensified 
and  extended.  In  time  hundreds  of  souls  may  be 
gathered  into  the  fold  of  Christ.  This  is  especially 
the  case  where  men,  young  and  old,  are  led  to  testify 
to  the  preciousness  of  Christ's  love  and  to  the  joys  of 
a  new-born  hope. 

As  the  spring  advances  converts  are  examined  for 
admission  to  the  church.  Special  efforts  are  made  to  cor- 
rect their  habits  of  life.  They  are  instructed  in  the  evi- 
dences, the  doctrines,  and  the  duties  of  religion.  They 
are  trained  in  Christian  work.  They  enter  the  Sabbath- 
school  or  the  Bible-classes.  The  young  men  take  part  in 
the  regular  or  neighborhood  or  young  people's  prayer- 
meetings. 

During  a  portion  of  the  summer  the  city  pastor  and 
many  of  the  people  are  necessarily  away.  They  have 
heard  the  injunctions  of  Christ  to  his  Apostles,  "  Come 
ye  yourselves  apart  into  a  desert  place  a7id  rest  awhile  " 
(Mark  vi.  31).  And  so  they  have  hied  themselves  away 
to  the  hills  or  to  the  waters.  And  this  may  be  a  very 
profitable  season  for  the  pastor  and  the  parish.  They 
have  been  tasked  to  the  utmost.   The  body  needs  invigo- 


WHEN  TO  HAVE  REVIVALS. 


275 


ration  and  the  mind  needs  freshness.  Best,  rest,  rest  is 
the  crying  want.  And  this  is  the  tinje  when  many  of 
the  city  churches,  halls,  and  dwellings  are  deserted.  But 
prodigies  of  saving  good  may  be  accomplished  in  these 
quiet  retreats.  With  warm  hearts  and  loosened  tongues 
souls  may  be  reached,  churches  may  be  quickened  and 
built  up,  while  fresh,  wise,  and  enlarged  plans  are  de- 
vised for  revival  work  at  home.  In  this  extended  method 
of  operation  alarming  appeals  are  not  made  to  the  im- 
penitent every  Sabbath  in  the  year,  but  in  the  course  of 
time  "  all  the  counsel  of  God  "  is  declared  to  the  people. 
The  revival  spirit  is  always  cherished  without  reaction. 
As  J esus  has  intimated  (Luke  ii.  49),  the  work  becomes 
his  Father's  sacred  and  divinely  appointed  business.  It 
is  to  be  entered  upon  as  if  all  depended  on  our  wisdom 
and  force,  while  we  trust  entirely  to  God's  guidance 
and  help.  And  as  the  farmer  toils  for  a  harvest  every 
coming  year,  so  our  hearts  must  be  fixed  upon  the  one 
supreme  idea  of  a  yearly  ingathering  of  souls. 

To  secure  this  complicated  and  glorious  result  we 
must  learn  of  the  Spirit  of  God  just  how  to  feel,  how 
to  speak,  and  what  to  do.  And  God  must  be  just  as 
ready  to  give  us  this  blessing  as  he  is  to  give  men  a 
yearly  harvest,  or  his  own  children  a  permanent  salva- 
tion. In  this  yearly  gathering  there  are  plan,  toil,  and 
persistence.  But  all  this  is  accompanied  by  the  inspir- 
ing joys  and  those  sweet- sounding  words  of  Jesus  :  "  Lo, 
I  am  with  you  always  "  (Matt,  xxviii.  20).   "Our  dwell- 


276 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


ing  is  upon  the  banks  of  a  beautiful  stream  whose  waters 
are  ever  flowing." 
,  But  we  hear  objections  :  — 

THIS  IS  A  CHARMING  THEORY,  BUT  WHO  EVER  HAD 
A  YEARLY  REVIVAL? 

If  this  objection  is  founded  in  truth,  then  let  us  re- 
solve to  do  something  that  was  never  done  before.  It 
is  something  that  surely  will  be  done  before  the  dawn 
of  the  millennial  glory. 

INSTANCES  OF  A  YEARLY  REVIVAL. 

Happily  this  objection  is  not  valid.  The  revival 
continued  in  Lydda  and  Saron  until  all  that  dwelt 
there  turned  to  the  Lord  (Acts  ix.  35).  After  the  Pen- 
tecost, Peter  and  others  kept  on  preaching  and  the  Lord 
added  to  the  church  daily,  and  the  number  of  men  that 
helieved  was  about  five  thousand.  And  we  find  the 
influence  of  these  revivals  spreading  over  the  lands  and 
down  the  centuries  until  the  banner  of  the  cross  waved 
over  the  city  of  Constantine.  Pastor  Harms  of  Her- 
mansburg,  Germany,  was  not  distinguished  for  his  elo- 
quence, but  his  one  aim  was  the  conversion  of  souls. 
His  parish  was  ten  miles  square.  He  had  inquiry- 
meetings  and  a  prayer-meeting  every  evening.  The 
revival  interest  continued  for  seventeen  years.  There 
was  a  family  altar  in  every  dwelling  and  he  had  a 
church  of  ten  thousand  members.    For  more  than  thir- 


A  YEARLY  REVIVAL. 


277 


teen  years  Dr.  Edward  Payson  of  Portland,  Maine,  held 
inquiry-meetings.  During  this  time  there  was  an  aver- 
age addition  to  his  church  of  about  forty  persons  each 
year.  Eev.  Dr.  Milledollar,  pastor  of  the  Rutgers  Street 
Church,  New  York,  enjoyed  a  powerful  revival  of  religion 
for  more  than  three  years.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pattison  of 
Philadelphia  was  a  zealous,  godly  pastor.  His  whole 
heart  was  enlisted  in  the  work  of  saving  souls.  It  is 
said  that  he  had  a  revival  of  religion  for  fourteen  years 
in  succession.  He  had  a  large,  working  church.  More 
than  once  I  have  heard  the  sainted  Dr.  Thomas  H. 
Skinner  of  New  York  dilate  upon  the  transcendent  value 
of  revivals ;  and  as  he  lived  over  again  his  three  years 
of  glorious  revival  interest,  in  Arch  Street  Church, 
Philadelphia,  his  speech  was  a  rapture  and  a  frenzy. 
It  seemed  like  an  inspiration  from  heaven.  During 
more  than  five  years  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  was  a  pastor 
in  Boston.  There  were  frequently  very  large  acces- 
sions to  his  communion,  and  his  church  was  always  in 
quickened  and  working  condition.  For  twenty  years 
Dr.  Edwin  E.  Hatfield  was  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Pres- 
byterian Church,  Broome  Street,  New  York.  During  all 
these  years,  with  very  few  exceptions,  there  was  a  yearly 
revival  of  wondrous  power.  During  these  years  one 
thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-six  persons  professed 
Christ,  and  six  hundred  and  sixty-two  were  received  into 
the  church  by  certificate.  Dr.  Edward  N.  Kirk  was  a 
cultured  young  man  and  a  very  attractive  preacher.  He 


278  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

first  became  a  pastor  in  the  city  of  Albany,  New  York. 
He  began  this  ministry  with  the  one  purpose  of  win- 
ning souls  to  Christ.  A  revival  of  religion  commenced 
at  once,  and  continued,  with  most  surprising  results,  dur- 
ing his  entire  pastorate  of  eight  years.  For  this  object 
he  toiled  and  prayed  and  preached.  For  this  object  meet- 
ings for  inquirers  were  constantly  held  for  years.  For 
this  object  every  alley  and  attic  of  the  ward  was  visited 
by  Christian  men  and  women.  Among  the  results  in 
that  community  was  a  vast  increase  of  intelligence  and 
a  great  rise  in  the  value  of  property.  Several  years 
since,  Kev.  Dr.  A.  E.  Kittredge,  of  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Chicago,  reported  a  work  of  grace  of  five 
years'  continuance.  We  learn  that  the  revival  still  con- 
tinues. There  are  now  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
fifty  names  enrolled  in  his  church-book.  Mr.  Spurgeon 
of  London  has  a  yearly  harvest  of  souls.  He  and  many 
of  his  church  work  directly  for  the  ungodly. 

In  reviewing  the  history  of  fourteen  years  of  pastoral 
labor  in  Allen  Street  Church,  New  York,  commencing 
in  January,  I  find  tliat  one  year  we  were  absorbed  in 
the  business  of  sending  our  boys  to  the  battlefields  and 
in  providing  for  the  comfort  of  soldiers.  During  another 
year  we  improved  the  sanctuary,  exchanged  the  organ, 
and  paid  an  old  church  debt  During  these  two  years 
less  than  forty  persons  united  with  the  church.  During 
each  of  the  other  twelve  years  there  was  a  revival  of 
greater  or  less  power.    During  one  year  two  hundred 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  279 

and  twenty  persons  expressed  a  hope  in  Christ.  We 
found  this  no  reason  for  diminished  effort.  This  in- 
crease of  our  moral  force  gave  us  new  courage  for  future 
action.  During  our  last  seven  years  together  there  was 
an  annual  average  of  eighty-five  hopeful  conversions. 
In  all  our  movements  this  sowing  and  reaping  were  the 
supreme  ends  in  view.  And  God  gave  us  spiritual  har- 
vests. He  was  offering  to  us  unspeakable  blessings,  and 
it  seemed  ungrateful  and  wicked  not  to  receive  them. 
These  examples  might  be  nmltiplied.  I  give  these  be- 
cause the  object  of  this  book  is  not  to  commend  a  theory 
or  an  experiment.  Its  aim  is  to  incite  the  young  and 
the  disheartened  by  the  actual  experience  of  others  in 
a  great  variety  of  forbidding  circumstances.  But  it  is 
said  objectively,  — 

"  MOST  OF  MY  CONGREGATION  ARE  ALREADY  MEMBERS 
OF  THE  CHURCH." 

Then  what  a  working  force  you  have.  What  wonders 
you  may  accomplish  for  the  outside  world.  And  how 
impossible  it  is  to  neglect  the  salvation  of  the  perishing 
without  betraying  the  cause  of  the  Master.  We  do  not 
live  alone /or  our  church,  but  for  the  town,  the  city,  the 
state,  the  country,  the  world.  If  there  is  room  in  the 
sanctuary  bring  in  the  non-churchgoers.  If  the  sanc- 
tuary is  full,  enlarge  it.  If  that  cannot  be,  form  an  able 
colony  and  found  a  church  and  help  them  to  build  and 
support  a  sanctuary  in  another  part  of  the  town  or  city. 


280  REVIVALS:  now  AND  WHENf 

There  will  then  be  room  in  both  churches.  During  the 
great  revivals  in  Dr.  Hatfield's  church  in  Broome  Street, 
New  York,  that  part  of  the  city  was  rapidly  increasing 
and  they  sent  forth  members  to  form  the  Madison  Street 
Church  and  the  Eleventh  Presbyterian  Church,  now  the 
Memorial  Presbyterian  Church  on  Madison  Avenue. 

CHUKCH  COLONIZATION  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 

During  the  early  part  of  this  century  religion  had  so 
far  declined  that  most  of  the  old  Congregational  churches 
of  Boston  had  passed  into  the  Unitarian  denomination. 
Orthodoxy  was  ridiculed.  The  literary  and  judicial  men 
of  Massachusetts,  together  with  the  Trustees  and  Pro- 
fessors of  Harvard  University,  were  Unitarians.  In 
Eastern  Massachusetts  many  of  the  Orthodox  churches 
were  turned  out  of  their  sanctuaries.  They  gathered  in 
schoolhouses  and  town-halls.  But  now  the  state  of 
things  began  to  be  understood,  and  the  tide  in  Boston 
began  to  turn.  Before  the  formation  of  Dr.  Lyman 
Beecher's  church  there  were  four  Orthodox  congrega- 
tions in  the  city,  with  a  service  for  seamen.  Soon  after 
liis  installation  a  revival  commenced  and  his  sanctuary 
was  crowded.  Not  content  wdth  his  own  prosperity  two 
able  colonies  were  soon  formed,  and  one  sanctuary  was 
built  at  the  North  and  another  at  the  South  End  of  the 
city.  He  then  began  to  hold  evening  services  in  the 
towns  surrounding  Boston.  Nobody  can  describe  the 
result  of  those  years  in  the  city  and  in  the  State.  New 


EXTRAVAGANCE  AND  FANATICISM.  281 

cliurches  were  formed  and  conversions  were  multiplied. 
At  tlie  time  of  my  installation  as  pastor  of  one  of  tlie 
Boston  churclies,  twelve  years  after  Dr.  Beecher  began 
his  work  there,  the  Orthodox  Congregationalists  had 
12  churches,  and  the  Unitarians  had  the  same  num- 
ber. During  the  fifteen  years  that  followed  the  Doctor's 
arrival  150  Congregational  churches  had  been  formed  in 
the  State.  The  Unitarians  had  then  135  churches,  the 
Orthodox  Congregationalists  had  400.  In  a  recent  count 
of  a  Sabbath  attendance  in  the  different  churches  in  Bos- 
ton the  Unitarians,  once  so  powerful,  numbered  9,323  ; 
the  four  Orthodox  denominations  numbered  54,272. 
What  a  result  is  this  of  wise  and  vigorous  Christian 
work  !  This  same  revival,  home,  missionary  and  church- 
extension  work  has  been  followed  by  similar  results  in 
the  city  of  Eochestex,  IST.  Y.  In  their  8  Presbyterian 
churches  they  now  report  a  membership  of  2,630  per- 
sons. In  both  these  cities  churches  of  other  denomi- 
nations have  been  greatly  multiplied  and  blessed. 

THESE  YEARLY  EEVIVALS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  GREAT 
EXTRAVAGANCE  AND  FANATICISM. 

This  is  entirely  unnecessary  and  far  less  common  than 
in  sudden  and  short-lived  excitements,  for  they  are  more 
a  matter  of  settled  principle,  purpose  and  plan.  During 
Dr.  Lyman  Beecher's  revivals  in  Boston  a  distinguished 
physician  read  to  him,  from  his  notebook,  the  name  and 
symptoms  of  certain  patients.    Said  Dr.  Beecher :  "  I 


282 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


have  just  such  a  book  with  the  name  and  condition  of 
inquiring  souls."  "  Yes,"  said  the  physician,  "  but  with 
more  fanaticism."  "  Not  a  particle  more,"  was  the  reply. 
,We  know  of  physicians  who  spend  anxious  days  and 
sleepless  nights  over  the  hazard  of  valued  lives  —  and 
there  are  Christians  who  are  deeply  exercised  over  per- 
(^ishing  sinners.  When,  by  the  power  of  God,  the  oaks 
of  Bashan  have  come  down,  and  the  sons  of  Anak  have 
been  conquered,  and  the  high  and  the  low  have  bowed 
together  at  the  cross  of  Christ,  I  have  known  of  joy 
unspeakable,  and  I  have  heard  the  song  of  thanksgiving, 
but  I  have  never  heard  the  people  shout  with  a  great 
shout  and  praise  the  Lord  as  they  did  in  the  days  of  Ezra. 
Was  Ezra  a  fanatic  ?  When  the  Son  of  God  has  come  into 
our  midst  to  conquer  souls  and  to  heal  the  perishing  he 
has  been  welcomed.  I  have  heard  the  voice  of  hearty 
praise  and  the  prayer  of  earnest  thanks,  but  I  have  never 
heard  anything  like  the  shouts  of  the  whole  multitude  of 
disciples  when  Jesus  was  going  up  to  Jerusalem.  Of  this 
he  approved,  for  to  the  carping  Pharisees  he  said :  "  I  tell 
you  that  if  these  should  hold  their  peace  the  stones  would 
immediately  cry  out"  (Luke  xix.  36-40).  When  the  one 
leper  glorified  God  with  a  loud  voice,  and  fell  down  on 
his  face  at  his  feet,  Jesus  asked  for  the  nine  who  were 
also  cleansed.  In  fact  I  never  remember  to  have  seen 
an  exhibition  of  excitement  that  was  not  the  legitimate 
result  of  God's  truth  and  God's  Spirit,  and  the  loving, 
sympathizing  nature  that  God  has  implanted  in  man. 


CONTINUAL  REVIVAL  WORK. 


283 


In  this  stirring,  driving  world  prosy  meetings  will  not 
do.  In  this  rush  of  business  and  political  excitement 
there  must  be  religious  interest  and  spiritual  life.  Our 
crying  danger  is  propriety  and  supineness. 

THIS  CONTINUAL  EEVIVAL  WORK  BREAKS  DOWN  THE 
HEALTH. 

This  is  an  essential  point.  Comparative  health  is  an 
absolute  necessity.  And  the  wildest,  weakest  thing  a 
man  can  do  is  to  rush  into  revival  work  with  a  violence 
that  irritates  his  nervous  system,  cripples  his  power,  and 
unfits  him  to  press  forward  the  work  with  judgment  and 
efficiency.  This  is  disastrous  to  the  continuance  of  the 
revival,  for  in  this  condition  he  is  but  half  a  man.  Take 
care  of  the  body,  for  "  your  body  is  the  temple  of  the 
Holy  Ghost."  We  are  told  "not  to  make  a  fumigator  of 
the  head,  or  a  spirit-cask  of  the  stomach."  But  we  are  to 
eat,  drink,  rest,  take  vigorous  exercise,  and  give  no  quar- 
ter *to  indigestion.  Sleep  is  a  grand  restorative.  Strive  to 
be  strong.  Give  attention  to  necessary  affairs.  And  the 
soul  will  turn  to  spiritual  work  with  new  zest.  Each  day 
we  must,  for  a  time,  give  up  to  the  Lord  our  feeling  of 
anxious  responsibility.  He  will  bear  it.  And  then,  when 
the  spirit  of  God  is  in  the  soul  and  sinners  are  being  con- 
verted, it  is  joyous  and  easy  to  work.  It  is  far  less  diffi- 
cult to  continue  than  to  commence  revival  work.  One 
conversion  in  a  resisting  circle  breaks  a  link  out  of  the 
iron  chain.   It  may  drop  to  the  ground,  while  fresh  con- 


284  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WEENt 

verts  increase  the  working  force.  And  God  helps  us. 
"They  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their 
strength ;  they  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles ; 
they  shall  run  and  not  be  weary,  and  they  shall  walk 
and  not  faint"  (Isai.  xL  31). 

Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  believed  that  the  state  of  the 
body  had  much  to  do  with  the  state  of  the  soul.  Hence 
he  took  much  bodily  exercise,  and  was  very  careful  of 
his  health.  While  in  Boston  he  lived  far  from  his  church. 
This  walk  increased  his  bodily  vigor.  It  was  in  this  way 
that  he  performed  such  prodigies  of  labor  and  yet  lived 
to  a  marvellous  old  age.  With  all  his  intensity  of  char- 
acter he  did  not  believe  in  undue  excitement.  He  says: 
"  The  proper  state  of  feeling  in  a  revival  is  a  mild,  con- 
stant, intense  desire  of  heart  for  sinners,  not  agitating,  but 
strong  and  steady ;  a  fulness  and  strength  of  desire,  with 
a  cool,  collected  state  of  mind  for  wise  planning  and  ac- 
tion, accompanied  by  earnest,  believing  prayer  ;  not  in- 
tense passions  all  flashing  and  boiling  in  the  heart,  but 
calm,  tranquillizing  confidence  in  God ;  the  courage  and 
skill  of  the  general  in  battle.  Thus  the  body  and  the 
mind  can  both  endure.  Animal  affection  may  be  quiet, 
yet  a  mighty,  steady  energy  will  keep  the  wheels  of  the 
soul  in  motion.  This  has  carried  me  through  revivals  and 
kept  me  up.  But  for  this  my  ardent  temperament  would 
have  prostrated  me.  An  overpowering  weight  of  respon- 
sibility must  be  shut  out.  Exercise  your  best  judgment, 
do  your  duty,  and  leave  it  all  to  God.   Do  not  be  troubled 


PROPER  INSTRUCTION  OF  CONVERTS.  285 

about  things  that  may  never  happen."  I  may  add :  hav- 
ing done  your  best  leave  it  with  God  and  turn  to  some 
pleasant  or  useful  subject  that  you  may  come  back  to 
your  work  fresh  and  vigorous.  Thus  duty  and  health 
may  go  together. 

THIS  CONTINUAL  REVIVAL  PREVENTS  THE  PROPER 
INSTRUCTION  OF  YOUNG  CONVERTS. 

If  the  farmer  should  say  after  a  good  harvest,  "  I  will 
now  spend  some  years  in  improving  my  fields  or  my 
workmen,"  he  would  be  called  a  drone,  an  idiot,  or  a  lu- 
natic. Instead  of  that,  how  he  plans  in  the  winter  and 
bounds  to  his  work  with  new  courage  in  the  opening 
spring.  The  most  prosperous  fisherman  does  not  spend 
a  year  in  improving  his  nets.  Young  converts  must  be 
instructed.  They  must  understand  the  doctrines,  but 
they  must  perform  the  duties.  They  must  be  taught 
how  to  serve  the  Lord  from  day  to  day.  They  must  be 
shown  how  to  win  souls  to  Christ.  And  they  must  be 
pressed  into  service.  So  that  the  grandest  thing  in  the 
world  for  young  converts  is  the  continual  revival.  The 
idea  of  mere  instruction  for  a  year  is  a  grievous  mis- 
take. It  is  a  device  of  the  Devil.  During  a  year  of 
spiritual  inaction  their  ardor  may  be  chilled.  Not  only 
may  souls  be  lost,  but  the  church  may  drift  into  world- 
liness,  and  the  young  converts  may  become  inveterate 
backsliders.  How  many  intelligent  men  are  silent  in  a 
prayer-meeting  to-day  because  they  never  opened  their 


286 


EEVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


lips  when  their  hearts  were  first  warmed  with  the  love 
of  Jesus  !  During  a  single  year  young  converts,  though 
well  instructed,  may  become  careless  and  inconsistent, 
and  the  w^orld  may  point  to  them  and  say :  "  There  is 
the  result  of  revivals!"  Not  only  the  washing  of  regen- 
eration but  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost  is  essential 
(Titus  iii.  5).  Young  converts  must  realize  and  meet 
their  new  responsibilities.  The  Christian  life  is  a  ser- 
vice, and  they  must  commence  it  at  once.  This  is  the 
easiest  and  best  time.  The  farmer,  merchant,  and  me- 
chanic tell  young  men  what  to  do,  and  they  show  them 
exactly  how  to  do  it.  This  is  the  way  to  train  young 
converts.    Even  the  young  bird  must  learn  how  to  fly. 

During  the  revival  Christians  are  tender  and  loving. 
Converts  are  fervent,  teachable,  conscientious,  and  easily 
persuaded.  The  world  looks  upon  them  with  wonder. 
They  are  fresh  and  genuine.  Their  influence  is  often  pro- 
digious, their  possibilities  are  often  amazing.  But  how  is 
their  interest  to  be  secured  and  intensified  ?  Mere  lec- 
tures are  insufficient.  Teach  them  to  think  and  plan  and 
work  in  a  free  and  simple  way ;  and,  like  a  man  just 
healed  of  a  dangerous  malady,  they  may  influence  those 
diseased  like  themselves  to  seek  the  physician  of  souls. 

HOW  TO  FILL  THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  LORD  WITH 
A  PERMANENT  CONGREGATION. 

This  is  one  of  the  grand  problems  now  to  be  solved. 
How  can  we  multiply  and  crowd  our  sanctuaries  ?  I 


THE  PEOPLE  MUST  ATTRACT. 


28T 


do  not  ask  how  we  can  draw  from  other  churches. 
That  indeed  might  be  painful  robbery.  But  how  can 
we  draw  the  neglecters  of  the  sanctuary  ?  I  do  not 
refer  to  this  subject  again  because  a  crowded  sanc- 
tuary may  be  pleasant  and  profitable  to  the  pastor 
and  the  church.  I  dwell  upon  it  at  length  because 
the  people  of  God  are  responsible  for  the  neglecters 
of  salvation  in  their  immediate  vicinity,  and  because 
every  one  of  Christ's  disciples  is  bound  to  be  a  mis- 
sionary of  the  cross  to  these  perishing  souls.  I  dwell 
upon  it  at  length  because  in  this  way  alone,  will  there 
be  material  for  an  annual  ingathering  of  souls  during 
a  long  course  of  years.  The  people  cannot  be  driven. 
They  must  be  attracted.  "  Well,"  it  is  said,  "  call  the 
most  eloquent  speaker  in  the  land."  But  where  are  the 
millions  of  eloquent  speakers  to  supply  all  the  Lord's 
churches  on  the  face  of  the  earth  ?  Dr.  Chalmers  tells 
us  that  a  church  filled  by  oratory  is  mostly  filled  from 
other  congregations  and  not  from  the  neglecters  of  the 
sanctuary.  I  heard  it  said  some  thirty  years  ago  that 
thirty  elders  had  gathered  into  one  popular  church  in 
this  city.  Such  a  gathering  is  a  calamity.  They  could 
effect  vastly  more  as  leaders  in  several  churches.  \^ 

THE  PEOPLE  MUST  ATTRACT  NON-CHURCHGOERS. 

But,  says  one,  "  Let  us  beautify  the  sanctuary,  free  it 
from  debt,  and  secure  the  best  music."  All  this,  if  prop- 
erly done,  is  very  judicious.    But  suppose  the  church  is 


288  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

beautified,  tlie  debt  is  paid,  "  the  bell  is  rung,  the  seats 
are  free,  the  organ  sounds,  the  music  swells,"  the  prayer 
ascends,  the  sermon  is  preached,  and  still  these  wander- 
ers turn  away.  What  then  ?  "  Hope  and  pray  and  wait 
for  their  coming."  Wait  ?  The  churches  have  waited 
till  whole  generations  have  swept  fiercely  down  the 
broad  way,  plunging  at  last  into  the  bottomless  abyss. 
And  they  may  wait  centuries  more,  but  they  will  never 
come,  never.  The  days  of  waiting,  I  trust,  are  over. 
We  must  employ  the  very  means  that  the  servant  was 
commanded  to  use  in  bringing  men  to  the  gospel  feast. 
Let  each  one  hear  and  obey  the  command  of  Jesus  : 
"  Go  out  into  the  highways  and  hedges,  and  compel, 
or  constrain,  them  to  come  in  that  my  house  may  be 
filled"  (Luke  xiv.  23).  In  another  case  Christ  says  : 
"  Go  out  quickly."  Go  to  them  ;  dig  them  out  with  kind 
words  and  loving  attentions.  God  said  to  Israel :  "  Love 
ye  therefore  the  stranger,  for  ye  were  strangers  in  the 
land  of  Egypt "  (Deut.  x.  19).  When  David  was  pre- 
paring to  build  the  temple  he  commanded  to  gather  the 
strangers  (1  Chron.  xxii.  2).  Go  to  them.  One  interview 
may  effect  but  little.  Follow  up  the  effort  and  the  friend- 
ship until  they  are  welcomed  and  seated  in  the  sanctuary. 
Invite  them  to  the  congregational  sociables,  to  the  Sab- 
bath-school, and  the  evening  meetings.  Induce  others 
to  treat  them  with  attention.  And  when  they  find  that 
they  have  real  and  disinterested  friends  in  the  church 
you  have  touched  their  hearts  and  their  interests,  and 
have  prepared  the  way  for  an  abiding  influence. 


THE  PEOPLE  MUST  ATTRACT. 


289 


I  remember  the  conversion  of  a  common  man  in  my 
first  parish.  He  began  to  pore  over  his  Bible,  and  was 
much  in  prayer.  He  was  full  of  gratefulness  and  joy. 
He  would  visit  the  sick  and  call  upon  strangers.  He 
talked  with  the  children.  There  was  no  man  that 
infidels  feared  as  they  did  him.  They  could  argue,  but 
they  could  do  nothing  with  this  man's  overflow  of  love, 
tenderness,  and  zeal.  He  won  people  to  the  church  and 
the  chapel.  He  was  said  to  be  the  most  useful  inan  in 
the  community.  That  man  was  a  stimulus  to  the  chil- 
dren of  God.  Sabbath-school  teachers  must  become  the 
warm  friends  of  all  the  families  to  which  their  children 
belong.  In  this  work  young  converts  may  become  the 
most  potent  force  of  all.  What  multitudes  are  sighing 
for  one  drop  of  human  kindness.  Association,  tender- 
ness, sympathy,  respectability,  and  a  feeling  of  home 
has  often  more  to  do  with  drawing  worldly  people  to  a 
church  than  all  other  influences  together.  How  often 
have  I  heard  this  :  "  I  tried  to  attend  a  church,  but  I 
was  always  neglected.  I  was  always  a  stranger.  But 
in  another  church  I  was  met  at  the  door.  I  was  shown 
a  pleasant  seat.  I  was  told  in  passing  out  that  I  was 
very  welcome.  I  was  asked  my  name  and  number. 
The  pastor  and  the  people  sought  me  out.  They  were 
kind,  generous,  and  cordial.  They  are  my  very  best 
friends."  Thus  welcomed  with  both  hands  and  with  all 
the  heart  they  were  won  and  blest.  To  insure  thorough 
work,  and  to  prevent  these  calls  from  becoming  obtrusive, 


290  REVIVALS :  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

Eev.  Dr.  Nelson  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  has  proposed  this 
method.  "  Let  the  city,  village,  or  country  be  divided 
into  sections.  Then  let  the  people  call  at  each  house. 
Let  them  ask  strangers  if  they  belong  to  any  congregation. 
If  they  do,  make  a  friendly  call  and  pass  on.  If  they 
prefer  another  denomination  direct  them  to  it.  If  they 
have  no  such  connection  or  preference  then  exercise  all 
tact  and  vigilance  in  your  efforts  to  interest  them  in 
your  sanctuary."  I  must  again  insist  that  these  friendly 
calls  be  repeated  until  these  persons  are  settled  in  the 
sanctuary  and  are  the  children  of  God. 

THE  PASTOR  MUST  ATTRACT  NON-CHURCHGOERS. 

He  must  love  their  souls.  He  must  become  their 
warm  friend.  He  must  interest  himself  in  their  af- 
fairs. He  must  go  to  them  and  secure  their  confidence 
and  love.  His  whole  heart  must  be  drawn  out  and 
shown  to  these  unsaved  wanderers.  We  find  Jesus 
gathering  his  disciples  in  a  quiet  way.  We  find  him 
seeldng  and  finding  and  saving  the  multitude.  So  with 
tlie  apostles  and  early  Christians,  and  those  grand  Chris- 
tian heroes,  Chalmers,  Guthrie,  and  Arnot.  They  did 
not  rely  alone  upon  their  unrivalled  eloquence  in  the 
pulpit.  There  were  .constant  efforts  to  interest  the 
people  personally.  They  often  won  their  opponents  to 
the  church,  and  finally  to  Christ,  by  commencing  a 
conversation  with  them  on  subjects  for  which  they 
especially  cared. 


ATTRACT  NON-CHURCHGOERS. 


291 


A  few  years  ago  ifc  was  my  privilege  to  deliver  the 
charge  to  a  young  man  at  his  ordination.  I  have 
watched  his  progress.  There  has  been  great  religious 
interest  in  his  church,  mission,  and  Sabbath-school. 
There  were  separate  prayer-meetings  for  boys  and 
girls,  for  young  men  and  young  women.  There  w^as 
also  a  general  prayer-meeting.  A  lady  Bible-reader 
was  employed.  In  two  years  there  were  two  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  additions  to  the  church,  and  great  ex- 
ternal prosperity.  One  grand  secret  of  this  success  is 
the  fact  that  the  young  pastor  in  a  single  year  made  a 
thousand  calls,  while  his  people  during  the  year  called 
upon  each  family  in  the  neighborhood  more  than  once. 
Several  men  were  appointed  to  welcome  strangers  to 
the  sanctuary  and  united  efforts  were  made  for  their 
conversion.  Another  student,  whom  I  helped  to  ordain 
not  far  from  the  same  time,  has  used  these  same  revival 
methods.  His  sanctuary  was  crowded,  and  the  yearly 
addition  to  the  church  was  most  surprising.  This  out- 
ward work  requires  a  rigid  system.  The  pastor  must 
do  his  part.  But  said  one  of  them  to  me :  "  I  dislike 
these  calls.  When  they  must  be  made  I  take  a  carriage 
and  get  through  the  matter  as  soon  as  possible."  If  the 
pastor  will  devote  to  this  work  three  hours  in  the  after- 
noon of  four  or  five  days  each  week  he  will  accomplish 
wonders.  And  if  he  is  warmly  searching  for  souls  he 
will  bound  through  this  work  with  great  cheer.  He 
will  interest,  instruct,  and  attract  many  a  wanderer. 


292  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

He  himself  will  be  greatly  benefited.  He  secures  the 
needed  exercise.  His  interest  in  the  people  is  quickened, 
and  he  gathers  up  many  appropriate  thoughts  which 
give  freshness,  vigor,  and  point  to  his  Sabbath  and 
weekly  meetings.  When  in  my  youthful  days  I  was 
seriously  anxious,  my  pastor.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  drew 
forth  all  my  difficulties.  That  night,  in  his  lecture,  he 
utterly  demolished  every  one  of  them.  He  reached 
others  as  well  as  myself. 

When  the  people  are  brought  to  the  sanctuary  they 
must  be  affected  by  the  services.  The  prayer  must  be 
appropriate  and  earnest.  Instead  of  one  long  petition, 
which  is  tedious  to  the  feeble  and  the  young,  the  prayer 
may  be  shorter  at  the  beginning  of  the  service  and  at 
the  end  of  the  sermon  ;  when  the  Holy  Ghost  is  so  es- 
sential to  make  the  truth  effectual  to  souls  it  may  be  a 
little  longer.  Instead  of  praying  about  Bible  truths 
let  us  ask  ourselves,  "  What  do  this  people  need  "  ?  And 
among  other  things  let  us  never  forget  to  pray  for  the 
children,  for  the  strangers,  and  for  the  present  conversion 
of  sinners. 

And  here  I  must  insist  again  that  outsiders  should  be 
interested  in  the  preacJiing.  Satan  has  great  ability  and 
many  devices.  He  suits  his  allurements  to  the  taste  of 
the  individual.  He  must  be  foiled.  Christ  told  Peter 
that  he  should  catch  men  (Luke  v.  10).  If  you  would 
catch  a  fish,  a  bird,  or  a  man,  you  must  attract  him. 
You  do  not  attract  him  by  scolding,  neither  by  a  con- 


ATTRACT  NON-CHURCHGOERS.  293 

tinuous  cry  of  duty,  duty,  neither  by  a  ceaseless  habit 
of  proving  every  assertion.  The  soul  of  the  pastor  may 
sometimes  be  so  full  of  God's  truth  and  God's  Spirit 
that  a  zealous  proclamation  of  God's  word  will  move  the 
intellect  and  the  heart  of  others.  Weighty  truth,  earn- 
estly delivered  with  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  will 
arrest  men.  Abstract  and  preceptive  teaching  alone  may 
fail  to  reach  them  ;  but  they  may  have  sympathy,  imagi- 
nation, curiosity,  passion,  and  a  tender  spot  in  the  heart 
that  can  be  reached.  It  was  recently  said  of  a  pastor 
that  "  he  subdued  his  hearers  with  pathos  and  love." 
They  may  be  pursuing  worldly  interests  with  intense 
force.  They  need  truth  that  meets  the  wants  of  home 
life.  Said  a  gifted  author  to  me  recently  :  "  My  pastor 
is  preaching  some  exceedingly  able  sermons,  but  I  hate  to 
hear  them,  for  they  do  not  meet  the  wants  of  the  people." 
Brevity  is  essential.  How  many  preachers  would  be 
amazed  to  hear  the  remarks  of  persons  about  the  length 
and  tediousness  of  their  services.  Words,  words,  words, 
words  !  how  they  are  multiplied,  and  how  the  service  is 
weakened  thereby.  Short,  forcible  words  are  desirable. 
Manner,  elocution,  subject,  argument,  illustration,  point, 
and  enthusiasm  must  all  be  made  attractive. 

We  recommend  no  absurd  device  or  sensationalism. 
And  yet,  like  Paul,  we  should  so  wield  the  sword  of 
the  Spirit  that  a  sensation  should  be  produced  in  the 
conscience  and  heart  of  men.  Some  pastors  are  fet- 
tered by  mere  propriety  and  formalism.    Eules,  ruts, 


294 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


and  routine  are  their  fatal  bane.  We  may  sometimes 
vary  our  mode  of  attack,  and  pour  forth  the  deep  emo- 
tion of  our  hearts.  The  Enemy  of  souls  may  not  be 
prepared  to  meet  these  means. 

How  Jesus  interested  the  irreligious  by  referring  to 
things  around  them.  How  many  Bible  preachers  have 
taken  for  their  texts  the  evil  of  cities,  —  Lot  in  Sodom, 
Jonah  in  Nineveh,  Jeremiah  in  Jerusalem,  and  St.  Paul 
on  Mars  Hill,  —  and  other  subjects  that  bring  the  truth 
home  to  the  heart  and  life  of  the  people.  During  such 
a  course  of  sermons  we  must  address  the  people  as  liu- 
onan  leings.  How  Jesus  in  his  humanity  taught  them  ! 
We  must  awaken  their  interest;  we  must  proclaim 
truths  of  vital  and  present  importance  to  them.  Most 
errorists,  who  preach  smooth  things  grow  tame,  and 
lose  their  hold  upon  the  people.  But  when  the  ma- 
jesty of  God  and  the  prospects  of  each  soul  for  eter- 
nity are  proclaimed,  then  an  Almighty  Saviour  will  seem 
to  men  an  infinite  boon.  Let  these  and  other  essential 
truths  be  accompanied  with  divine  influence  and  urged 
with  tears.  Let  them  be  in  the  preacher's  heart  "  as  a 
burning  fire."  Let  practical  issues,  human  sympathy, 
living  thought,  stubborn  fact,  sound  doctrine,  and  strik- 
ing illustration  be  all,  in  due  order,  poured  down  upon 
the  hearer  in  one  avalanche  of  earnestness.  Continue 
to  do  this  with  prayer  and  study  and  utter  self-abandon. 
Carry  this  spirit  into  the  pulpit,  the  prayer-room,  the 
household,  and  the  people  will  come  to  the  sanctuary ; 


PASTOR  AND  PEOPLE  MUST  WORK.  295 

for  nothing  in  the  world  sooner  attracts  the  people 
than  genuine  enthusiasm  in  a  matter  of  their  loss  and 
gain.  Dr.  Asa  D.  Smith,  late  president  of  Dartmouth 
College,  once  said  to  a  pastor,  "  Your  church  flourishes 
while  others  around  you  languish,  because  you  are  al- 
ways after  souls."  But  preaching  alone  is  insufficient. 
The  sanctuary,  the  prayer-room,  and  the  music  must  be 
attractive. 

THE  PASTOR  AND  THE  PEOPLE  MUST  WORK  TOGETHER. 

They  should  never  rest  until  the  confidence,  friend- 
ship, and  safety  of  the  outside  world  is  secured. 
Such  co-operative  effort  is  irresistible.  Through  an 
elder  in  my  church  I  became  acquainted  with  a  repu- 
table gentleman  who  was  the  father  of  a  young  family. 
He  neglected  the  sanctuary,  and  was  averse  to  Evan- 
gelical doctrine.  Through  our  prayerful  efforts  he  be- 
came a  zealous  Christian.  He  one  night  stated  in  our 
Evangelistic  prayer-meeting  that  previous  to  his  conver- 
sion he  had  been  among  his  companions  disposing  of 
tickets  for  a  hall.  This  he  now  deplored.  At  my  sug- 
gestion he  introduced  me  to  these  friends  of  his.  We 
labored  and  prayed  for  their  conversion.  One  night 
this  man  again  arose  in  the  prayer-room,  and  with  much 
emotion  exclaimed,  "  This  is  the  night  of  the  ball ; 
and  all  of  us  who  had  those  tickets  are  here  with  our 
wives  to-night  rejoicing  in  the  love  of  Jesus."  That 
man  became  a  power  in  the  church.    His  son  died  a 


296  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

Christian  youth,  and  those  strangers,  with  their  young 
families,  helped  to  strengthen  the  church  and  enlarge 
our  congregation.  In  these  various  ways  let  the  pastor 
and  the  people  be  always  working  together  in  behalf  of 
the  souls  for  which  Jesus  toiled  and  died,  and  he  will 
give  them  a  wondrous  prosperity. 

THE  POWER  OF  DIVINE  INFLUENCE. 

There  is  nothing  that  so  strongly  attracts  and  holds 
men  to  Evangelistic  and  sanctuary  meetings  as  the  out- 
pouring of  God's  Spirit.  At  Pentecost  the  disciples  were 
filled  with  the  Holy  G-host.  It  is  said  (Acts  ii.  6), 
"  When  this  was  noised  abroad  the  multitude  came  to- 
gether." So,  in  a  true  revival  of  religion,  "  the  preach- 
ing is  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power " 
(1  Cor.  ii.  4).  Christians  are  full  of  life.  They  are 
humble,  tender,  zealous,  bold.  There  are  transforma- 
tions of  character.  It  is  noised  abroad.  Persons  known 
in  the  community  are  converted.  The  people,  as  in  the 
days  of  Peter  and  John,  will  "run  together  into  the 
house  of  the  Lord,  greatly  wondering"  (Acts  iii.  11). 
I  have  known  a  man  to  come  from  Philadelphia  to 
New  York  for  the  simple  purpose  of  attending  revival 
meetings.  And  persons  who  have  resisted  all  other  in- 
fluences often  yield  to  this.  They  came  to  see ;  they  re- 
mained to  pray.  I  have  never  known  pastors  troubled 
for  an  audience  when  proud  sinners  were  bowing  to  the 
force  of  Christian  fidelity  and  tlie  power  of  the  Ploly 


POWER  OF  DIVINE  INFLUENCE.  297 

Ghost.  And  this  is  the  best  way  to  fill  th&  sanctuary 
with  persons  who  will  love  it  and  will  make  it  their  home. 
If  filling  the  church  were  the  riding  motive,  it  could  not 
be  a  true  revival;  but  this  is  one  of  the  thousand 
incidental  advantages  of  such  Christian  work.  During 
one  year  more  than  one  hundred  persons  united  with 
our  Allen  Street  Church  in  New  York,  who  had  no  pre- 
vious connection  with  the  congregation.  Twelve  of 
these  families,  in  whole  or  in  part,  lived  in  Brooklyn, 
and  several  of  the  young  men  lived  more  than  three 
miles  from  the  church.  I  have  seen  throngs  of  tliese 
converted  strangers  at  a  single  time  looking  for  seats  in 
the  sanctuary,  and  all  this  through  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  that  accompanied  God's  children  in  their 
Christian  work.  And  oh,  what  fresh  and  precious  influ- 
ences came  stealing  over  those  strangers  !  How  they 
grew  and  toiled  and  flourished  and  gave ;  and  how  many 
of  them  to-day  are  polished  pillars  in  the  temples  of 
God.  It  was  a  fortunate  thing  for  us  that  many  per- 
sons were  every  spring  removing  from  our  borders. 
Thus  members  of  our  church  were  yearly  going  forth 
to  serve  the  master  in  other  parts  of  the  city  and 
the  land,  leaving  their  places  to  be  filled  by  non- 
churchgoers. 

All  this  is  the  usual  result  of  continual  revivals.  I 
open  this  morning's  paper,  and  here  is  the  account  of 
a  city  church  with  which  I  am  familiar.  They  have  a 
fine  church  edifice.    Their  pastors  have  been  good  and 


298  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

able  men,  but  the  church  languished  for  the  want  of 
means  and  members.  During  the  past  year  the  Sunday- 
school  has  doubled,  the  congregation  has  more  than  quad- 
rupled. The  income  of  the  church  has  met  expenses. 
Nearly  ten  thousand  dollars  has  been  raised  for  the 
church  debt.  What  is  the  secret  of  this  ?  The  new 
pastor  has  gone  to  work  with  utter  self-negation.  His 
one  aim  has  been  the  salvation  of  souls.  During  this, 
his  first  year,  one  hundred  and  twelve  persons  have 
joined  the  church.  Some  of  these  were  non-church- 
goers. Suppose  this  annual  ingatliering  continues  for 
fifteen  or  twenty  years,  what  kind  of  a  church  will  it 
be  ?  Even  in  this  life  our  efforts  for  the  outside  world 
are  often  repaid  a  thousand-fold.  Years  ago  the  faculty 
of  a  New  England  college  met  to  expel  a  reprobate  stu- 
dent. His  tutor  alone  expostulated.  He  called  on  his 
pupil  and  said :  "  There  is  a  gifted  young  man  in  this 
college  and  I  want  to  save  him.  Will  you  help  me  ? " 
The  young  man  was  touched.  He  was  reformed.  He 
was  converted.  He  graduated  with  honor  and  became 
a  pastor.  Years  rolled  away.  Not  long  since  he  and 
his  old  tutor,  now  president  of  a  college,  met  for  the 
first  time  at  the  General  Assembly.  The  young  preacher 
seized  his  friend  by  the  hand,  and  with  a  tear  in  his  eye 
and  a  sob  in  his  voice  he  exclaimed :  "  My  dear  Doctor, 
you  are  the  only  man  that  ever  thought  me  worth  sav- 
ing." What  a  recompense  of  reward  even  here.  What 
will  it  be  beyond  the  river  ?    Outsiders  may  become 


SYMPATHY  FOE  OUTSIDERS. 


299 


vastly  beneficial  to  the  church  of  Christ.  They  are 
raised  to  a  new  level.  They  are  new  beings.  Their 
Christian  force  is  often  wonderful.  Each  family  is  the 
centre  of  a  circle.  Even  if  they  are  poor  the  church 
needs  them.  Benevolence,  sympathy,  strength,  grate- 
fulness, and  social  elevation  are  all  promoted  by  this 
Christian  effort  and  intercourse.  And  it  is  God's  desire 
that  "  the  rich  and  the  poor  meet  together,  the  Lord  is 
the  maker  of  them  all"  (Prov.  xxii.  2).  It  is  not  the 
rich  alone  who  have  the  talent,  the  force,  the  religious 
influence,  and  the  power  of  rising.  In  every  army, 
political  campaign,  and  scheme  of  grandeur,  the  rich  and 
the  poor  are  working  together.  It  is  only  when  we 
come  to  strengthen  the  stakes  and  lengthen  the  cords 
of  our  Zion  that  we  seem  to  repudiate  our  common  sense 
and  leave  these  obstructers  of  our  progress  behind.  As 
the  majority  of  our  inhabitants  are  still  out  of  the  sanc- 
tuary one  more  view  seems  to  be  desirable. 

THE  SAD  CONDITION  OF  OUTSIDERS  DEMANDS  OUR 
CHRISTIAN  SYMPATHY  AND  HELP. 

Some  of  them  are  the  devotees  of  wealth,  skepticism, 
or  intellectual  pride.  Others  are  completely  engrossed 
in  business  or  pleasure.  Others  have  turned  to  drink 
and  lust  and  crime.  "  They  have  fiends  in  their  hearts 
and  oaths  on  their  lips."  Others  are  poor,  ignorant, 
feeble,  or  depressed.  Each  of  them  has  a  sad  history. 
Their  early  visions  of  joy  are  turned  to  darkness.  As 


300  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

wretched  wives  or  widows  they  may  have  children  too 
young  to  help  or  too  vile  to  cherish.  With  these  the 
great  battle  of  life  is  for  bread.  What  do  they  know 
of  the  sanctuary  ?  Their  struggle  is  to  appease  the 
landlord  and  to  drown  trouble.  What  do  they  know  of 
cliurch- worship  ?  Their  hopeless  sorrow  appeals  to  us. 
When  the  cry  of  fire  is  heard,  "  For  whom,"  asks  one, 
"  does  the  mother  run  first  ?  The  manly  boy,  the 
eldest  son  ?  No  ;  it  is  the  little,  helpless,  useless  babe 
in  the  cradle,  more  precious  to  her  than  the  stars.  Of 
whom  does  God  think  first  ?  Glowing  seraphs  and 
radiant  angels  ?  I^o ;  he  thinks  of  the  poor  and 
depressed,  —  those  who  drop  silent  tears  in  hidden 
places,  and  waste  away  alone  in  want."  And  he  who 
entered  the  world  by  "  the  stable  door "  sends  us  to 
them  with  messages  of  love  and  forgiveness.  Jesus  was 
himself  a  poor  man.  His  associates  were  publicans, 
sinners,  and  fishermen.  On  the  cross  he  saved  a  poor 
thief.  Even  after  his  resurrection  he  did  not  go  to  the 
rich,  the  gifted,  and  the  chief  men.  He  turned  to  his 
poor  disciples.  To  him  the  souls  of  the  poor  are  price- 
less. "  A  diamond,"  says  one,  "  is  a  diamond,  whether 
it  lies  in  a  dustheap,  or  flashes  on  beauty's  fiuger,  or 
sparkles  on  a  golden  crown.  And  a  soul  is  a  soul, 
whether  in  the  palace  or  the  hovel."  That  new-born 
soul  will  be  raised  from  the  filth  of  the  gutter  and 
washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  At  his  death  a 
shining  cohort  of  angels  will  throw  wide  open  the 


PATIENT  CONTINUANCE. 


801 


pearly  gates,  and  he  will  be  as  welcome  and  his  harp 
notes  will  be  as  sweet  as  are  those  of  the  favored  souls 
in  glory.  In  our  efforts  to  fill  the  house  of  the  Lord  let 
us  not  neglect  the  depressed  and  suffering.  And  if  the 
pews  of  the  church  are  rented,  let  the  trustees  seat  such 
persons  either  at  a  nominal  rent  or  "  without  money 
and  without  price  "  (Isai.  Iv.  1).  The  reward  will  come 
in  time. 

PATIENT  CONTINUANCE. 

There  are  great  and  precious  promises  to  those  who 
are  always  ahounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  (1  Cor. 
XV.  58)  ;  also  to  the  patient  continuer  in  well-doing 
(Eom.  ii.  6) ;  also  to  those  who  are  faithful  unto  death 
(Rev.  ii.  10).  Azariah  said  to  Asa  and  to  all  Judah  and 
Benjamin :  "  The  Lord  is  with  you  while  ye  he  %uith 
him.  He  will  not  forsake  you  to  the  end  of  your  days  " 
(2  Chron.  xv.  2).  And  "he  that  overcometh  and  keepeth 
my  works  unto  the  end,  to  him  will  I  give  power  over  the 
nations"  (Rev.  ii.  26).  Said  Jesus  :  "Ye  shall  ask  what 
ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you."  And  this  with 
no  cessation.  His  simple  condition  was,  "  that  you  abide 
in  him  and  his  words  abide  in  you  "  (John  xv.  7).  And 
he  promised  his  disciples,  on  certain  conditions,  that 
another  comforter  should  abide  with  them  forever  (John 
xiv.  16).  Any  faltering  in  God's  work  is  displeasing  to 
him.  "  If  any  man  draw  back,  my  soul  shall  have  no 
pleasure  in  him  "  (Heb.  x.  38).    "  0  Judah !  what  shall 


302 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


I  do  unto  thee  ?  for  your  goodness  is  as  a  morning  cloud, 
and  as  the  early  dew  it  goeth  away"  (Hosea  vi.  4). 
The  Lord  is  displeased  with  feeble  desires,  wavering 
faith,  and  inconstant  work.  A  good  continuer  in  a  good 
cause  is  a  grand  and  blessed  force.  There  are  times  in 
the  progress  of  a  revival  when  energies  seem  to  lag  and 
interest  seems  to  lessen.  And  directly  the  Adversary 
whispers:  "You  have  had  more  than  could  be  expected. 
Never  run  after  a  spent  revival."  And  so  the  prayer 
and  work  of  faith  languish  and  die. 

The  outward  aspect  of  a  revival  may  change.  Its 
appearance  may  be  modified  by  the  weather,  by  the 
weariness  or  diversion  or  illness  of  Christians.  Nearly 
all  the  persons  of  a  particular  class  may  have  found  the 
Saviour  ;  and  so  the  work  languishes.  But  it  need  not. 
Another  class  of  persons  may  be  reached.  Difficulties 
may  be  overcome.  The  church  must  be  frequently 
aroused  and  directed.  Powerful  motives  must  be 
pressed.  God's  fearful  threatenings  and  his  tender, 
loving  promises  must  be  urged,  and  believing  prayer 
must  be  renewed.  We  must  remember  that  God  is 
never  weary  of  giving  his  Spirit  when  it  is  properly 
cherished.  He  may  try  our  faith.  In  such  circum- 
stances we  must  not  limit  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  but 
we  must  press  forward  and  "  seek  the  Lord  till  he  come 
and  rain  righteousness  upon  us "  (Hosea  x.  12).  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Nettleton  describes  a  revival  where  it  seemed 
as  if  the  crisis  were  past  and  the  decline  had  come.  He 


PATIENT  CONTINUANCE. 


303 


gave  himself  to  prayer.  He  awakened  the  church.  The 
very  next  clay  witnessed  the  most  powerful  and  affect- 
ing scenes  of  the  entire  work.  There  are  pastors  who, 
in  similar  circumstances,  act  upon  the  principle  that 
their  believing  prayer  and  skilful  efforts  will  secure  a 
continued  work  of  grace.  They  sometimes  gain  a  con- 
fidence in  God  that  knows  no  denial ;  for  God  had 
never  disappointed  them  when  they  relied  on  him. 
Christians  generally  secure  as  much  of  the  divine  bless- 
ing as  their  hearts  are  fixed  upon.  The  Eev.  William 
Wisner,  D.  D.,  enjoyed  a  work  of  grace  which  soon 
waned.  The  wicked  began  to  triumph.  Dr.  Wisner 
humbled  himself  and  took  hold  of  the  promises  of 
God.  The  next  Sabbath  he  preached  an  appropriate 
and  powerful  sermon.  JMonday  was  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer.  With  tears  and  trust  the  church  came 
up  "  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty,"  and 
glorious  was  the  victory.  How  many  pastors  would 
have  given  up  and  yielded  to  what  they  considered 
the  sovereignty  of  God. 

Said  the  apostles :  "  We  will  give  ourselves  contin- 
ually to  prayer  and  to  the  ministry  of  the  Word " 
(Acts  vi.  4).  One  of  the  grandest  words  in  connection 
wath  revival  work  is  continuance,  —  a  holding  on  to 
God  and  a  succession  of  efforts.  That  word  has  been 
worth  worlds  to  men.  They  are  bound  to  have  the 
promised  Spirit.  They  cry  with  JSTehemiah, "  Why  should 
the  work  cease,"  and  with  the  Psalmist,  "  My  heart  is 


304  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

fixed,  0  God !  my  heart  is  fixed."  How  wonderful 
are  the  possibilities  of  such  men.  Adverse  circum- 
stances and  tremendous  emergencies  occur.  But  God 
removes  the  obstruction.  "We  kneel  how  w^eak,  we 
rise  how  stroug."  Said  Dr.  John  Scudder,  the  mis- 
sionary :  "  I  have  blotted  out  of  my  dictionary  the  word 
discouragement.  I  have  trials,  but  no  discouragements." 
Think  of  the  patient  continuance  of  Noah  in  building 
the  ark.  How  enormous  was  the  expense,  the  time,  the 
toil ;  and  all  this  with  an  unseen  prospect.  How  many 
final  triumphs  in  war  have  been  achieved  by  prudent, 
brave,  persistent  progress  in  the  face  of  danger,  defeat, 
and  death,  —  men  struggling  on  without  a  thought  of 
yielding.  We  have  in  our  midst  notable  examples  of 
patient  continuance.  Strong,  brave  men  pursuing  laud- 
able ends  with  inextinguishable  persistence. 

MR.  CYRUS  W.  FIELD. 

In  Mr.  Field's  account  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  he 
says  :  "  My  heart  has  often  been  ready  to  sink.  Many 
times  when  wandering  in  the  forest  of  Newfoundland  in 
the  pelting  rain,  or  on  the  deck  of  ships  on  dark  and 
stormy  nights,  alone,  far  from  home,  I  have  almost  ac- 
cused myself  of  madness  and  folly  to  sacrifice  the  peace 
of  my  family  and  all  the  hopes  of  my  life  for  what  might 
prove,  after  all,  but  a  dream.  I  have  seen  my  compan- 
ions, one  after  another,  fall  by  my  side,  and  have  feared 
that  I  too  might  not  live  to  see  the  end.    And  yet  one 


GREAT  THINGS. 


305 


hope  has  led  me  on ;  and  I  have  prayed  that  I  might 
not  taste  of  death  till  this  work  was  accomplished.  And 
now,  after  thirteen  years  of  anxious,  ceaseless  toil,  that 
prayer  is  answered.  And  beyond  all  acknowledgments 
to  men  is  the  feeling  of  gratitude  to  almighty  God." 
When  that  first  mystic  message  from  under  the  heav- 
ing ocean  reached  the  Queen,  I  happened  to  be  trav- 
elling in  her  dominions  with  a  portion  of  my  family. 
As  the  news  came  sounding  up  that  foreign  street  I  was 
not  only  proud  of  my  country,  and  thankful  to  God  for 
the  success  of  my  countryman,  but  this  heroic  example 
was  an  inspiration  to  me.  I  said :  "  Why  should  not  I, 
with  the  same  patient  persistence,  toil  for  the  rescue  of 
souls  ?  Mr.  Field  has  worked  out  this  untried  problem 
without  a  promise  of  heaven's  aid.  I  have  a  sure  prom- 
ise of  aid  from  the  Triune  God,  —  aid  which  millions 
have  received  and  used."  With  this  promised  aid,  who 
will  falter  in  the  Lord's  grand  work  of  saving  souls  ? 
On,  on,  ye  lion-hearted  men  of  God  !  There  must  be  no 
bowing  to  obstacles  or  drifting  with  the  tide.  With  full 
confidence  that  God  who  hath  begun  a  good  work  is 
able  and  willing  to  carry  it  on,  take  hold  of  his  strength 
and  rouse  you  to  the  conflict !  Through  Christ  Jesus 
the  victory  is  sure. 

GREAT  THINGS. 

Our  God  is  a  magnificent  and  bountiful  benefactor. 
He  pours  out  his  favors  with  lavish  profusion.    It  is 


306  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 

like  the  gushing  forth  of  many  waters.  He  prefers  to 
give  to  his  children  great  spiritual  blessings.  It  does 
not  impoverish  him,  and  it  magnifies  the  sublime  ob- 
ject for  which  Christ  died.  It  increases  the  rapture  of 
heaven  and  the  blessedness  of  earth.  This  is  the  day 
for  grand  achievements.  God  stoops  from  heaven  to 
give  us  inspiration  and  power.  The  Holy  Ghost  may 
flash  the  truth  into  the  darkest  soul  like  a  flame  of 
light.  God  is  saying  to  you,  "  Call  unto  me  and  I  will 
answer  thee,  and  show  thee  great  and  mighty  things 
which  thou  knowest  not  "  (Jer.  xxxiii.  3).  Isaiah  repre- 
sents Christ  in  glorious  apparel  "  travelling  in  the  great- 
ness of  his  strength  .  .  .  mighty  to  save  "  (Isai.  Ixiii.  1). 
We  can  just  as  well  have  great  as  small  things.  Why 
do  we  not  trustingly  ask  for  great  things  ?  We  rejoice 
when  by  ordinary  means  any  are  saved.  But,  said  Paul 
to  the  Ephesians,  "  God  is  willing  to  do  exceeding  abun- 
dantly above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to  the 
power  that  worketh  in  us  "  (Eph.  ii.  20).  It  is  God's 
strength.  He  is  honored  by  princely  desires  and  re- 
quests. A  poor  philosopher  asked  the  treasurer  of 
Alexander  for  a  great  sum  of  money.  "  Give  it  to  him," 
said  Alexander,  "give  it  to  him.  He  asks  as  if  I  were 
a  great  king."  So  God  said  to  Moses,  "  For  this  cause 
have  I  raised  thee  up,  for  to  show  in  thee  my  power,  and 
that  my  name  may  be  declared  throughout  all  the  earth" 
(Ex.  ix.  16).  "How  shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely 
give  us  all  things"  (Rom.  viii.  32).    "All  things  are 


GREAT  THINGS. 


307 


yours"  (1  Cor.  iii.  21).  Why  do  we  not  then  receive 
these  great  things  ?  Because  we  do  not  rest  down  npon 
"  the  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises  "  (2  Pet. 
i.  4).  Paul  tells  of  "the  exceeding  greatness  of  his 
power  to  US-ward  who  helieve"  (Eph.  i  .19).  Jesus  said, 
"  0  woman,  great  is  thy  faith ;  be  it  unto  thee  even  as 
thou  wilt "  (Matt.  xv.  28). 

This  distrust  of  Jesus  grieves  him.  "  He  did  not  many 
mighty  works  there  because  of  their  unbelief  "  (Matt.  xiii. 
58).  This  spirit  of  trust  never  leaves  men  when  it  is 
properly  cherished.  Elisha  said  to  king  Joash,  "Thou 
shouldst  have  smitten  five  or  six  times  ;  "  then  he  would 
have  overcome  his  enemies  (2  Kings  xiii.  19).  God  was 
provoked  because  the  people  in  the  wilderness  "  limited 
the  Holy  One  of  Israel "  (Ps.  Ixxviii.  41).  Says  God, 
"  Let  him  take  hold  of  my  strength  "  (Isai.  xxvii.  5), 
Trust  me,  ''prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of 
Hosts,  if  I  will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven  and 
pour  you  out  a  blessing  that  there  shall  not  be  room 
enough  to  receive  it "  (Mai.  iii.  10).  Large  desire,  be- 
lieving prayer,  and  faithful  labor  always  bring  great 
blessings.  When  Mr.  Moody  was  asked  what  he  was 
going  to  Scotland  for,  he  said  :  "  For  ten  thousand  souls." 
It  is  said  that  the  cry  of  Knox,  "  0  God,  give  me 
Scotland  or  I  die ! "  saved  that  country  from  sinking 
under  the  Eomish  power.  Why  be  satisfied  with  few 
dollars  when  we  can  have  millions.  God  would  not 
have  us  content  with  drops  when  we  can  have  a  plenti- 


308  REVIVALS:  HOW  AXB  WHEN? 

fill  rain.  In  all  our  unwortliiness  let  us  "  come  boldly 
unto  the  throne  and  find  grace  to  help  in  time  of  need" 
(Heb.  iv.  16 )  For  he  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne  is  a 
great  King  and  loves  to  bestow  great  blessings.  Let  us 
take  all  that  he  offers  to  us.  The  Church  of  Christ  must 
give  up  the  prayer  "  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is 
in  heaven,"  or  they  must  engage  in  the  conflict.  They 
must  press  forward  as  "the  champions  of  the  blood- 
stained banner."  The  truth  must  be  urged  with  unex- 
ampled pungency  ;  for  that  prayer  can  only  be  answered 
by  powerful  and  continual  revivals.  God  may  lead  his 
people  to  more  efficient  measures. 

ENLARGED  FEUITFULXESS. 

Good  men  have  disliked  every  deviation  from  the 
old  beaten  track.  And  yet  God  blessed  Whitefield  and 
Edwards  and  ]N"ettleton.  He  has  blessed  night-meet- 
ings, young  converts'  testimony,  and  requests  for  the 
prayers  of  God's  people.  The  Holy  Ghost  has  shed 
the  power  of  divine  influence  upon  ordinary  prayer- 
meetings,  extra-preaching  meetings,  four-days'  meet- 
ings, meetings  led  by  evangelists,  and  upon  Evangelistic 
prayer-meetings  in  which  laymen  make  direct  efforts 
for  the  conversion  of  souls.  The  inquiry-meeting  has 
also  been  crowned  with  marvellous  success.  Some 
extra  meeting  must  be  within  tlie  reach  of  all.  Where 
is  the  pastor  and  the  church  that  may  not  have,  year 
by  year,  a  larger  ingathering  of  souls  ?    Commune  with 


COLONEL  HOE  AND  BROTHERS. 


309 


Christ.  Study  the  characteristics  of  the  people  and  the 
leadings  of  God's  providence.  Let  your  own  experience, 
or  some  example  in  this  book,  guide  you  to  some  plan, 
and  then  execute  it.  Set  your  heart  upon  grand  results. 
Have  unwavering  faith  in  God.  Always  remember 
that  he  is  saying  to  you,  "  Eeceive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost " 
(John  XX.  22).  "  You  may  be  strenghtened  with  might 
by  his  Spirit "  (Eph.  iii.  16).  "  Open  thy  mouth  wide, 
and  I  will  fill  it "  (Ps.  Ixxxi.  10).  All  this  is  demanded 
by  the  spirit  and  enterprise  of  the  age.  Even  the  far- 
mer is  learning  from  his  experience  and  from  his  agri- 
cultural papers  how  to  improve  his  tools,  his  seed,  his 
culture,  and  his  enrichment  of  the  soil.  Through  this 
yearly  increase  many  a  farm  has  nearly  doubled  its 
yearly  production.  So  as  "  God's  husbandry  "  we  are  to 
study  and  devise  ways  and  means  of  securing  each  year 
a  bountiful  harvest  of  golden  sheaves.  "  The  children 
of  light "  are  not  to  be  surpassed  (Luke  xvi.  8).  They 
are  not  to  be  given  up  to  drought,  dust,  and  unfruitful- 
ness.  I  have  been  greatly  stimulated  by  the  almost 
miraculous  results  of  continued  study  and  determined 
zeal  in  worldly  projects. 

COLONEL  RICHARD  M.  HOE  AND  BROTHERS. 

When  the  "  New  York  Tribune  "  was  established  three 
thousand  small  papers  were  printed  in  an  hour.  During 
all  these  forty  years  Colonel  Hoe  and  his  brothers  have 
made  it  their  great  study  to  enlarge  the  power  of  the 


310  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN* 

printing-press.  No  advance  in  this  work  seemed  to  sat- 
isfy them.  Among  other  inventions  they  had  at  one 
time  a  lofty,  complicated  ten-cylinder  press  as  large  as 
a  small  house.  But  at  length  all  those  wheels,  tapes, 
cylinders,  and  a  regiment  of  men  are  dispensed  with. 
At  the  invitation  of  Eobert  Hoe,  Esq.,  I  recently  visited 
the  Tribune  Building.  There  was  a  press  about  the 
size  of  a  table,  managed  by  one  man.  Upon  a  cylinder 
there  was  a  great  roll  of  paper,  four  and  a  half  miles 
long.  The  man  pushed  one  end  of  that  paper  into  the 
machine,  and  in  one  hour  fifty  thousand  eight-paged 
Tribunes  were  printed.  Not  only  were  they  printed, 
but  they  were  cut  and  folded  and  dropped,  all  ready 
to  be  directed  and  sent  forth.  Here  enterprise,  study, 
and  improved  methods  are  securing  stupendous  results. 
Now  suppose  that  for  forty  years  a  pastor  and  some  of 
his  church,  relying  upon  Jesus  to  lead  and  help  them, 
should  make  it  their  grand  aim  and  study  how  to 
increase  the  number  of  new-born  souls.  Were  this 
your  object  you  would  of  course  look  upon  this  increase 
of  saving  results  as  one  of  the  magnificent  possibilities. 
You  would  expect  it  from  God  as  a  promised  good. 
You  would  fill  your  minds  and  hearts  with  the  sublime 
truths  and  motives  of  the  gospel.  You  would  see  that 
Jesus  was  glorified  in  the  salvation  of  men.  You  would 
consider  the  alarming  condition  of  sinners.  Sometimes 
you  would  stand  in  imagination  upon  the  silent  shore 
of  that  coming  eternity.    Time  is  ended.    The  trump 


COLONEL  HOE  AND  BROTHERS.  311 

has  sounded.  The  people  have  gone  out  over  those 
"scowling  waves."  They  have  gone  up  to  the  Judg- 
ment. And  hark !  The  universe  is  hushed  to  silence. 
The  Judge  exclaims :  "  Come  ye  blessed.  Depart  ye 
cursed."  And  here  they  are  mounting  upward.  And 
there  they  are  sinking  downward.  "  The  gate  of  hell 
grates  harshly."  They  enter  there  "  and  the  smoke  of 
their  torment  ascendeth  up  forever  and  ever"  (Eev. 
xiv.  11).  And  as  you  remember  that  these  are  your 
people,  your  cry  will  be  :  "  With  God's  help  they  shall 
be  rescued."  The  fervor  of  your  prayer  and  the  power 
of  your  persuasion  will  move  the  stoutest  hearts.  Your 
trust  will  be  in  "  the  Lord  of  the  harvest "  (Matt.  ix.  38). 
And  no  husbandman  could  be  more  wretched  in  view  of 
a  blighted  harvest  than  you  are. 

The  great  revival  commenced  in  New  York  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century  ago.  It  spread  in  this  and  in  for- 
eign lands.  It  is  thought  that  more  than  a  million  of 
souls  were  saved  through  that  extensive  work.  Suppose 
that  the  hosts  of  the  Lord  had  utilized  their  experience 
and  numbers  and  strength  and  position,  and  had  pressed 
right  on  conquering  and  to  conquer"  (Rev.  vi.  2).  The 
present  power  of  the  Church  would  be  enormous  and 
millions  of  the  lost  would  now  be  in  glory.  That  revi- 
val is  a  stupendous  fact.  It  is  history.  It  is  our  his- 
tory. Let  us  retain  the  good,  and  build  upon  it.  It  was 
original,  genuine,  simple,  and  direct.  The  people  prayed 
and  labored  together  daily.    In  their  meetings  prayers 


312  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 

were  asked  for  sinners,  and  new-born  souls  told  their 
love  for  Jesus.  The  Sabbath  services  were  solemn  and 
impressive.  Considering  the  time  occupied,  it  was  the 
most  marvellous  work  of  grace  during  the  Christian 
era. 

THE  LAST  APPEAL. 

Dearly  beloved  Christians,  will  you  not  now  engage 
in  such  a  work  ?  Can  you  do  a  better  thing  ?  To  be 
sure  the  outward  prospect  is  dark.  Men's  hearts  are 
hard  and  callous.  The  people  seem  to  be  marshalled 
around  the  god  of  this  world.  Satan,  with  his  fierce 
and  shouting  cohorts,  seems  bound  to  defeat  us.  He 
has  the  vantage  ground.  His  citadels  are  manned.  His 
banners  are  waving  over  every  valley  and  his  stand- 
ards are  fixed  on  every  hilltop.  But  our  Lord  is  omni- 
potent. Look  to  him.  He  has  determined  to  prevail. 
He  says  :  "  And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men 
unto  me  "  (John  xii.  32).  Says  God:  "I  have  sworn, 
.  .  .  that  unto  me  every  knee  shall  bow"  (Isai.  xlv.  23). 
These  revivals  are  coming.  They  must  come,  for  nations 
are  to  be  born  in  a  day.  "The  Prince  of  this  world 
shall  be  cast  out"  (John  xii.  31).  Jesus  shall  lead  forth 
his  valiant  forces.  The  work  of  Christian  triumph  shall 
go  on  and  on,  till  every  citadel  of  Satan  shall  fall.  The 
foot  of  Christ  shall  be  planted  on  his  neck.  Then  shall 
the  Prince  of  heaven  roll  onward  in  his  victorious  car. 
Every  head  shall  be  bared,  every  knee  shall  be  bent 


THE  LAST  APPEAL. 


313 


while,  with  songs  of  joy,  earth's  shout  goes  up :  "  The 
kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the  kingdoms  of 
our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ,  and  he  shall  reign  forever 
and  ever"  (Eev.  xi.  15).  What  an  inspiration  is  here. 
Jesus  is  on  our  side.  He  loves  revivals.  Angels  rejoice 
over  them.  Let  us  arise  in  the  majesty  of  God's 
strength.  Let  us  press  on — vast  in  numbers,  one  in 
purpose,  bold  in  action,  supreme  in  faith,  quenchless 
in  zeal.  Let  the  clarion  cry  go  pealing  over  the  land 
and  the  w^orld  :  "  Up  and  on,  ye  saints  of  the  Lord." 
Our  Leader  calls.  Light  is  dawning,  fear  is  vanishing, 
victory  is  coming.  Nothing  but  death  shall  stay  our 
progress.  And  may  God  speed  that  day  !  I  shall  not 
be  here  in  the  grand  consummation,  but  I  hope  to 
join  the  shout  in  heaven.  In  the  preparation  of  this 
work  my  constant  cry  has  been,  "  Lord  Jesus,  help." 
And  if  in  that  day  of  coming  glory  it  shall  appear  that 
God  has  blessed  this  book  to  the  encouragement  of  one 
continual  revival,  I  shall  be  ten  thousand  times  repaid 
for  the  toil  of  its  production.  And  I  shall  magnify  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  forever  and  ever. 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 


A. 

AflFecting  scene,  269. 
Agitation,  no,  284. 
Alexander,  Dr.  J.  W.,  22,  214. 
Alexander,    the  philosopher, 
306. 

Alice,  Princess,  92. 
Allen  Street  Church,  189,  278, 
297. 

A  million  saved,  311. 
Arnot,  Dr.,  222,  290. 
Assembly,  General,  247. 
Association,  289. 
Association,  Christian,  107. 
Autumn  work,  110,  113, 


B. 

Babe,  the  helpless,  300. 
Ball,  the,  295. 
Barnes,  Dr.,  24. 
Baxter,  160. 

Beech  er,  Dr.  Lyman,  22,  101, 
145,  216,  217,  277,  280,  281, 
284,  292. 

Beecher,  Rev.  Henry  Ward, 
203. 

Blanc,  Moimt,  212. 
Blind  men,  126. 


Booth,  Dr.  R.  R.,  17,  18,  183. 
Booth,  William  A.,  66,  185. 
Boys,  history  of,  257. 
Boys,  the  lost,  166. 
Bradlaugh,  Charles,  155. 
Broadway,  47. 
Brooklyn  pastor,  138. 
Bruce,  Rev.  J.,  23. 
BuUard,  Horatio,  142. 
Bunker  Hill,  247. 
Bunyan,  206. 
Bushnell,  Dr.,  147. 


C. 

Campaign,  111. 
Captive,  ransomed,  235. 
Carpenter,  the,  140. 
Chains,  broken,  270. 
Chalmers,  Dr.,  205,  217,  287, 

290. 
Chamouni,  212. 
Chancellor,  the  Lord,  208. 
Channing,  Dr.,  217. 
Children  and  the  pulpit,  189. 
Children,  five,  177. 
Children,  musical,  169. 
Children,  ten,  170. 
Child,  the  crying,  73. 


318 


REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHENf 


Choir,  frivolous,  69. 
Christ,  believe  on,  81. 
Cicero,  206. 
Coe,  Dr.,  122. 
College,  Bowdoin,  210. 
Committee,  young  men's,  10. 
Continuer,  a  good,  302. 
Converts  established,  131. 
Cry,  the  clarion,  313. 
Cuyler,  Rev.  Dr.,  128,  153, 
240,  268. 

D. 

Daniel,  200. 
Dante,  206. 
D'Aubigne,  93. 
Daughters,  the  two,  157. 
David,  155. 
David,  Royal,  206. 
Death  scenes,  26. 
Deep  well,  166. 
Demosthenes,  206. 
Devil  foHed,  137. 
Devil's  device,  285. 
Dickenson,  Rev.,  205. 
Dig  them  out,  288. 
Disraeli,  45. 
Divines,  the,  156. 
Dodge,  Hon.  W.  E.,  160,  261, 
262. 

Drunkard,  help  the,  266. 
Duchess  of  Sutherland,  204. 
Durant,  260. 


E. 

Earle,  225. 

Edwards,  18,  54, 160,  206,  234, 
308. 


Elder,  the  aged,  87. 
EU,  155. 
Elijah,  44. 

Enemy,  fiendish,  234. 
Enterprise  of  the  age,  309. 
Episcopalian  and  Catholic,  148. 
Esther,  146,  165,  253. 
Evening  discourses,  112. 
Experiences,  140,  141. 
Ezra,  64,  86. 
Ezra  a  fanatic,  282. 


F. 

Failure,  the,  52. 

Faith  alone,  79. 

Farmers,  11. 

Felix  and  Agrippa,  116. 

Field,  Cyrus  W.,  304,  305. 

Fiend,  the  arch,  219. 

Finney,  214. 

First  convert,  104. 

French,  Dr.  E.  W.,  124,  237. 


G. 

Garfield,  137,  246. 
Gethsemane,  223. 
Gettysburg,  216. 
Giant  men,  19. 
Goodrich,  Dr.,  101. 
God's  princely  giving,  306. 
Gorgeous  apparel,  165. 
Gough,  J.  B.,  265. 
Graham,  Mrs.,  255. 
Great  preachers,  19,  22. 
Griffin,  Dr.,  39,  221. 
Guthrie,  Dr.,  201,  202,  204, 
290. 


INDEX. 


319 


H. 

HaU,  Dr.  John,  212. 
Hall,  Kev.  Newman,  268. 
Hall,  Eobert,  57. 
Haldanes,  K.  and  J.  A.,  93. 
Harms,  Pastor,  276. 
Hastings,  Dr.  T.,  152. 
Hatfield,  Dr.  E.  F.,  103,  277, 

280. 
Hawes,  Dr.,  23. 
Hayes,  Mrs.,  269. 
Heart-cry,  the,  31. 
Hewitt,  Mahlon  T.,  182. 
Hezekiah,  251. 
Hodge,  Dr.,  210. 
Hoe,  Colonel  K.  M.,  309. 
Hoe,  Robert,  310. 
Holland,  Dr.  J.  G.,  203,  268. 
Homer,  206. 
Hubbard,  Judge,  262. 
Humphrey,  Dr.,  23,  54,  55. 
Huntington,  Lady,  253. 

I. 

Ideas,  absurd,  243. 
Illustration,  its  power,  206. 
Ingersol,  Robert,  156. 
Inquirer,  dishonest,  232. 

J. 

Jeremiah,  168. 

Johnson,  Dr.  Herrick,  187. 

Joined  (154),  the  church  at  one 

time,  121. 
Join  the  shout,  313. 
Jonah,  211,  225. 
Joshua,  156. 
Josiah,  11,  148,  156. 


Judge,  the  angry,  67. 
Judson,  Mrs.  Ann,  259. 


K. 

Kendall,  Dr.  J.  F.,  55. 
Kimball,  Mr.,  94. 
Kirk,  Dr.  E.  N.,  214,  223,  277. 
Kittredge,  Dr.  A.  E.,  240,  278. 

Knee,  every,  shall  bow,"  312. 
Knox,  307. 


L. 

Lad,  the,  157. 
Lafayette,  246. 
Lamphier,  146. 
Lardner,  Dr.,  148. 
Lawyer,  the  Christian,  90. 
Leavitt,  Mrs.,  269,  270. 
Lectures,  112. 
Lee,  Fitzhugh,  246. 
Lester,  J.  W.,  20,  96. 
Lincoln,  246. 
Lindsey,  Dr.,  37. 
Little,  Dr.  J.,  67,  69. 
Lord  &  Taylor,  139. 
Loss,  great,  145. 
Lot,  155. 
Luther,  225,  251. 
Lyon,  Miss  Mary,  258. 

M. 

Macedonians,  the,  44. 

Mall,  Boston,  224. 

Man,  offended,  84. 

Man's,  young,  testimony,  115, 

117. 
McCall,  94. 


320 


REVIVALS:  HO 


W  AND  WHENf 


Mcllvaine,  Bishop,  22. 

McLeod,  Dr.  A.,  188. 

Medical  students,  11. 

Meetings  that  draw,  137. 

Milledollar,  Dr.,  277. 

Miller,  Hugh,  205. 

Milton,  206. 

Mines  of  wealth,  165. 

Missionary,  lost,  58. 

Moody,  17,  50,  71,  94,  199, 

206,  214,  215,  219,  225,  226, 

251,  307. 
Mothers,  91,  154. 
Mother's  mistake,  171. 
Mother's  regret,  176. 
Mother,  saintly,  118. 
Murphy,  Eev.  E.  D.,  257. 
Music  for  children,  1 69. 
Music,  the  power  of,  250. 


N. 

Naaman,  89. 
Nathan,  36. 

Nehemiah,  11,  30,  35,  58,  61, 

88,  200,  303. 
Nehemiah,  his  skill,  63. 
Nelson,  Dr.  290. 
Nettleton,   Dr.,  22,  54,  145, 

214,  225,  302. 
New  church,  28. 
Newell,  Harriet,  259. 
Newell,  W.  W.,  Jr.,  122,  224. 
Niagara,  154,  267. 
Night,  sad,  87,  88. 
Ninety  millions  in  1890,  25. 
Noah,  163. 
Noble,  Dr.,  21. 


0. 

Obstacles  overcome,  41. 
One  hundred  conversions,  29. 
Orthodoxy,  prevailing,  281. 


P. 

Paine,  Thomas,  116. 
Papist,  29. 
Parents,  155. 
Parishioner,  proud,  231. 
Pastor's  pathos  and  love,  293. 
Pastor's  vacation,  274. 
Pastors,  the  unwise,  59,  196. 
Pattison,  Kev.  Mr.,  277. 
Paul's  experience,  125. 
Paxton,  Dr.  W.  M.,  216,  237, 
238. 

Payson,  Dr.,  37,  50,  199,  206, 

214,  277. 
Payson,  Rev.  Charles  H.,  267. 
Pentecost,  Eev.  Dr.,  20. 
Personal  experience,  45,  46,  77, 

101,  104. 
Phelps,  Anson  G.,  160. 
Philip,  225. 

Physicians  discarded,  60. 
Pittsburg,  237,  238. 
Plank,  rotten,  237. 
Plummer,  Dr.  235. 
Porter,  Dr.,  22. 
Preaching,  refined,  214. 
Prime,  Dr.  S.  Irenseus,  of  the 

"New  York  Observer,"  76, 

134,  265. 
Prince  of  this  world,  312. 


INDEX. 


321 


E. 

Eeed,  Dr.  Andrew,  48,  50, 180, 
225. 

Keed,  Sir  Charles,  180,  225. 
Eepaid  ten  thousand  times, 
313. 

Eeprobate  student,  298. 
Eevivals,  coming,  312. 
Eevivals  pay  church  debts,  20. 
Eeunion,  111, 

Eich  and  poor  together,  299. 
Eochester,  N.  Y.,  20,  281. 
Eocky  Mountains,  61. 
Eoss,  Charlie,  166. 


S. 

Sabbath-evening  discourses, 
112. 

Saintly  mother  and  her  son, 
118- 

Samaria,  woman  of,  64. 
Samaritan  woman,  125. 
Samuel,  160. 

Sanballat,  the  wrathful,  61. 
Sankey,  226. 
Saul  of  Tarsus,  126. 
Scolding,  56. 
Scudder,  Dr.,  304. 
Shaftesbury,  Earl  of,  226. 
Shaw,  Oliver,  251. 
Sinners,  hardened,  34. 
Skinner,  Dr.  Thomas  H.  24, 

277. 
Slave,  the,  139. 
Smith,  Dr.  A.  D.,  123,  295. 
Smith,  J.  T.,  229. 
Sons,  two,  91. 


Souls,  fifty  thousand,  224. 
Spaulding,  Mrs.,  259. 
Speaking,  impressive,  203, 
Spring,  Dr.  Gardner,  22,  160. 
Spurgeon,  206,  215,  231,  278. 


T. 

Talks  with  children,  167. 
Talniadge,  Dr.,  215. 
Taylor,  Dr.,  66,  101. 
Teachers,  two,  193. 
Testimony  of  converts,  123, 
124. 

Testimony  of  elders,  128. 
Three  peculiarities  of  the  work, 

122,  123. 
Timothy,  160,  225. 
Tobiah,  61. 

Todd,  Dr.  John,  27,  145. 
Truth  inferred,  214. 
Tyng,  Dr.,  junior,  237,  239, 
240. 

Tyng,  Dr.,  senior,  188. 


U. 

Unclean  spirit,  126. 
University,  Harvard,  280. 


V. 

Varied  means,  308. 
Victoria,  Queen,  92,  305, 
Victory,  grand,  269,  270. 


322  REVIVALS:  HOW  AND  WHEN? 


W. 

Waves,  the  scowling,  311. 
Whitefield,  206,  224,  225,  253, 
308. 

Wisner,  Dr.  William,  303. 
Woman's  great  work,  257,  260. 
Woman,  remarkable,  125. 


Y. 

Young  man  amazed,  117. 
Young  man  and  the  party,  118. 
Young  man  on  the  steamer, 
76. 

Young  men,  knots  of,  111. 


University  Press :  John  Wilson  &  Son,  Cambridge. 


